Bernalillo Council Hears Representative Derrick Lente, Weighs Budget Adjustments, Planning Schedule

The Bernalillo Town Council will convene its regular meeting Monday, March 9, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers at Town Hall, 829 Camino del Pueblo, where State Rep. Derrick Lente will deliver a legislative update before the council moves to public comment and votes on key fiscal measures. Finance Director Terri Gray is scheduled to present two budget adjustment resolutions: one addressing special funds and a second covering the general fund, both listed as up for adoption Monday night.

This will be the council’s first regular meeting since the March 3 municipal election. Mayor Jack Torres, who won a fifth term defeating challenger James Baca with all 10 of 10 precincts fully reporting, is expected to preside. Councilors Vincent Montoya and Gerred Prairie, both reelected, are listed among council members whose terms continue under the council’s staggered four-year system. The recent municipal ballot also included a question on a new economic development tax; results and implications for town revenue were noted on election materials but are not specified on the March 9 meeting notice.

Beyond the two budget adjustments, the council will vote to approve minutes from the Feb. 23 regular meeting and will consider a planning commission scheduling matter, described in notices only as a scheduling item without further detail. Archive agenda language shows the council’s typical business flow, including financial items such as Accounts Payable Vouchers and a financial update presented by Terri Gray, though the March 9 notice centers on the legislative update, the budget adjustments, and the planning scheduling item. In recent action, the council unanimously approved adding a firefighter position funded by an increase in state Fire Protection Fund revenues, a personnel change that may inform this month’s financial discussions.

Public participation is constrained by sign-in requirements and a three-minute limit per speaker; the meeting will open with Rep. Lente’s remarks and then accept public comment. Remote access is provided via Microsoft Teams: Meeting Code 283 252 129 524 9, Password eo77cd3T, with phone dial-in 1-575-323-1898 and Conference ID 167 204 180#. Archived town agendas show different past Teams codes and phone conference IDs for earlier meetings, including an April 22, 2024 access code of 277 523 044 247 and password 2Vtbaz, but the dial-in number 1-575-323-1898 appears on multiple notices.

For accessibility needs or auxiliary aids, contact Town Clerk Ida Fierro at 771-7128, per posted meeting guidance. Councilors will decide Monday whether to adopt the two budget adjustments, a move that will set spending priorities for special funds and the general fund as Bernalillo enters the post-election council calendar and moves forward on planning commission scheduling.