Mayor to give State of City address

HOUR -- ALBUQUERQUE MAYOR MARTIN CHAVEZ WILL DELIVER HIS STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS. A BIG PAR...  More »

HOUR -- ALBUQUERQUE MAYOR MARTIN CHAVEZ WILL DELIVER HIS STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS. A BIG PART OF IT -- HOW TO BALANCE THE BUDGET WITH A PROJECTED 20 MILLION DOLLAR SHORTFALL. THE MAYOR GAVE US A PREVIEW OF THE PLAN AT A NEWS CONFERENCE THIS AFTERNOON. JOE VIGIL IS LIVE IN THE NEWSROOM WITH THE DETAILS. JOE? RIGHT NOW 63- HUNDRED CITY EMPLOYEES DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT LOSING THEIR JOBS. THERE WILL BE NO LAYOFFS. BUT 142 OPEN POSITIONS THROUGHOUT CITY HALL WILL NOT BE FILLED. THE MAYOR'S FINANCE TEAM HUDDLED UP AT CITY HALL TODAY TO GO OVER THE GAME PLAN OF FALLING GROSS RECEIPTS TAXES. 8 MILLION DOLLARS WILL BE SAVED BY NOT FILLING OPEN JOBS. ANOTHER 12 MILLION WILL BE SAVED BY REDUCING OPERATING EXPENSES AT CITY HALL LIKE CUTTING BACK ON TRAVEL. THE CITY ALSO HAS ADDITIONAL REVENUE FROM NATURAL GAS AND PROPERTY TAXES. AND THE CITY BUDGETED EXTRA MONEY FOR FUEL...BUT HASN'T SPENT IT WITH GAS PRICES FALLING. 'The bottom line is--no layoffs-- no cutbacks certainly in law enforcement other than I think the chief won't be going to as many conferences the rest of the year for travel.'WE RECEIVED A LIST A SHORT TIME AGO OF JOBS THAT WON'T BE FILLED. THE MOST IN ONE DEPARTMENT IS 27---THOSE ARE POLICE CIVILIAN POSITIONS. OFFICER VACANCIES WILL CONTINUE TO BE FILLED. OTHER DEPARTMENTS WITH VACANCIES THAT WON'T BE FILLED---INCLUDE PLANNING, TRANSIT, FINANCE AND CULTURAL SERVICES AMONG OTHERS. THE MAYOR WILL DELIVER HIS STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS AT THE ALAMOSA COMMUNITY CENTER AT 6. FALLING ENERGY PRICES HAVE TAKEN  « Less