Buckman Direct Diversion board approves FY27 operating budget, includes facilities manager authority amendment

The Buckman Direct Diversion board voted on March 5 to approve the proposed fiscal year 2027 operating budget and related fund contributions and to recommend that the City of Santa Fe and Santa Fe County include the request in their FY27 budget processes.

Kirk Travers, presenting for CliftonLarsonAllen, said the proposed operating budget totals $9,366,000 — a $580,000 increase from the prior year — and that the proposed contribution to the major repair and replacement (MRR) fund is $1,695,000 (slightly lower than recent prior requests). "Personnel is about 45% of total expected costs," Travers said, and he called out rising electricity and operating costs and a roughly $4 million carryforward in encumbered projects from prior years.

After presentation and questions, a board member moved to approve the budget and a second followed. The mover accepted a friendly amendment to include the facilities manager's requested authority within the MRR fund. Chair Cassatt called for a roll call; the members present recorded affirmative votes and the motion carried.

Board discussion during the budget review emphasized two implementation issues: (1) the facilities manager's current delegated authority under the procurement/PMFSA framework is $60,000 and staff proposed aligning that authority with the city's higher threshold (city manager authority was cited at $200,000), and (2) the board will see a follow-up proposal to raise the facilities manager's monetary authority to reduce procurement delays. Staff said they will bring a coordinated proposal with the city for board consideration.

The approved budget will be forwarded to the City of Santa Fe and Santa Fe County as part of their budget roll-up and final approval processes. The board adjourned at 4:40 p.m.