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City of Santa Fe Weekly Wrap
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Highlights from the Week of April 25, 2022 |
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There's a lot going on in the City Different!
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City Spending Plans Approved |
ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT the Governing Body unanimously approved the administration's plans for spending $382.8 million in Fiscal Year 2023 and $15 million of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds by the end of 2024
The new budget includes an unprecedented investment in public safety that is characterized by generous pay increases, signing bonuses for lateral transfer police officers, purchases of state-of-the-art vehicles and equipment, and down payment assistance on home purchases so public safety personnel can afford to live in the city.
In addition, to address critical needs, bolster services, modernize, and professionalize all aspects of city government, other prominent spending plans include:
- Creating housing and livable neighborhoods; for the third straight year, the City will invest $3 million in the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
- Employees will receive the equivalent of an 8 percent salary increase, the City will offer $2,000 annual retention incentives to existing employees, and will continue to offer $1,000 signing incentives to help fill city positions.
- Creation of the Complete Streets Division, an innovative program combining Engineering and Streets divisions, to upgrade infrastructure, improve basic city services, and cultivate multimodal transportation.
The Governing Body also unanimously approved the Budget Adjustment Resolution for the City’s plan to spend $15,049,631 of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds by the end of 2024. ARPA provides relief funds to state, local, and tribal governments that have been negatively impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
The City’s plan is to guide resources to families, job seekers, and businesses in Santa Fe, in order to address the social and economic challenges that were exacerbated by the pandemic. Learn more here about the innovative projects to tackle homelessness and create housing, support career paths, upgrade critical infrastructure, and more.
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MAYOR'S NOTE:
Big Investments in
Santa Fe’s Future
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This week, we moved forward with big, transformational investments in Santa Fe and our future.
Our spending plan in the Fiscal Year 23 budget is progressive and bold. In it we invest in our employees, our parks and streets, housing and sustainability. Community health and safety, in particular, are front and center as we come through COVID. We need to recognize and reward our first responders. Right now, public safety is on everyone’s mind, and we have responded to that concern with the largest investment in Santa Fe’s history.
On top of that, over the next couple of years we are going to use our $15 million in federal government pandemic relief funds to address the urgent social and economic needs of our community.
We’ll help Santa Fe’s small businesses get back on their feet and thrive. We’ll offer job training and employment opportunities for our young people.
We’ll invest in real solutions to end homelessness in Santa Fe.
We’ll continue to link education, jobs, and a guaranteed stipend to help families break the cycle of poverty.
We’ll work with our dedicated non-profit partners to keep delivering critical services to those who need help.
We’re going to use the budget and the federal ARPA money to do the most good for the most people and continue to change Santa Fe for the better.
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El Camino Real Elementary third-graders were among the many school and youth groups who participated in what Keep Santa Fe Beautiful Director Carol Branch called "the most successful community cleanup to date." Last Saturday morning, nearly 2,000 volunteers picked up just under 10 tons of litter -- three tons more than last year! The Environmental Services and Parks divisions helped KSFB with the event. Bravo! |
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Miles of Medians Maintenance |
The medians crew is responsible for about 580 medians which, combined with right of ways, amounts to 118 miles of maintenance in total! In this video, Medians Superintendent Nathan Saiz describes the median maintenance plan for the city, including tree and shrub care, pesticide-free weed abatement, and debris removal. |
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Lunch at the Senior Center |
The Senior Services Division is excited to announce that the Mary Esther Gonzales Senior Center will again offer a congregate lunch for seniors beginning Monday, May 2. A Grab-N-Go lunch option will also be offered for those who do not wish to dine in-person. Senior transportation services will be expanded to include grocery store trips in addition to pharmacies and medical appointments. Find the details here.
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Geared Up for Bike Month! |
Read the highlights here or check out the full menu of events here.
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