Water Utility Authority Board Meeting - May 20, 2026

The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority Board held a meeting on May 20, 2026, focusing extensively on budget approvals, capital improvement projects, and water resource management. Key procurement-related actions included the approval of a $285.7 million balanced operating budget for FY27 with no rate increases, and a $92 million capital improvement program (CIP) budget aimed at infrastructure rehabilitation, system reliability, and major IT upgrades. The board authorized the issuance and sale of senior lien joint water and sewer refunding revenue bonds (up to $33.12 million) to refinance existing debt, expected to generate annual debt service savings of $300,000 to $400,000. Additionally, the board approved acceptance of a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for an Aquifer Storage and Recovery project, with a local match of $239,000 already budgeted. The meeting also included discussions on modernizing the water and sewer rate ordinance, including implementing a credit card convenience fee to offset processing costs. Presentations from the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer and Interstate Stream Commission highlighted ongoing water rights administration, compact compliance challenges, and statewide water planning efforts, emphasizing the need for infrastructure investment and collaborative water management. No new procurement vehicles or contracts beyond those mentioned were discussed.