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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Garcia, M.P.

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

1-20-06

HB 69

SHORT TITLE BARELAS COMMUNITY GRAFFITI DETECTIVE SB

ANALYST Hadwiger

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY06

FY07

$38.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

ESTIMATED ADDITIONAL OPERATING BUDGET IMPACT (dollars in thousands)

FY06

FY07

FY08 3 Year

Total Cost

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

Total

$12.0

$12.0

$24.0 Recurring General

Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Department of Finance and Administration

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 69 appropriates $38 thousand from the general fund to the Local Government Divi-

sion of the Department of Finance and Administration for the mid-region council of governments

(MRCOG) to employ or contract with a graffiti detective who would coordinate graffiti preven-

tion, investigation, and cleanup in the Barelas community within the City of Albuquerque and in

the area contained between Central Avenue SW on the north, Rio Bravo Boulevard SW on the

south, Coors Bouleveard SW on the west and the Rio Grande on the east in Bernalillo County.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $38 thousand contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general

fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY07 would revert to

House Bill 69 – Page 2

the general fund. It is not clear if the amount included in this bill would be sufficient to hire a

full-time sworn detective. Sworn officers first class earn $39,520 per year plus benefits or, with

benefits, cost more than $50,000 per year. Deputies first class in the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s

office earn $42,439 per year or, with benefits, cost more than $53,000. These costs could decline

if the detective were not sworn or were hired on contract.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

According to its text, the bill targets graffiti within the City of Albuquerque. As such, it is not

clear why it would be beneficial to fund a law enforcement officer in MRCOG, which does not

currently operate a law enforcement agency, rather than in the City of Albuquerque. The City

currently operates an anti-graffiti program such that placement of funds there would facilitate

coordination of efforts.

DFA indicated the graffiti detective can be better described as a graffiti prevention coordinator.

This independent contractor would not be required to perform law enforcement duties; rather co-

ordinate with law enforcement officials to prevent future graffiti attacks, as well as act as a liai-

son between communities and entities with efforts concentrated towards graffiti prevention and

cleanup. This individual may also be encouraged to focus on youth awareness and initiate youth

programs concerning public art and/or cultural murals. DFA noted that communities affected by

this appropriation include areas throughout the City of Albuquerque and the Rio Grande river on

the east in Bernalillo County. Because this individual will work in multi-jurisdictional areas

(City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County), DFA recommended that the funds be appropriated

to the MRCOG for administration.

DFA noted that graffiti attacks continue to increase in the City of Albuquerque and surrounding

areas. While state law exists to prosecute offenders, it is difficult to witness attacks and ulti-

mately reduce the number of offenders. Prevention may be a useful tool in reducing the number

of offenses. The City of Albuquerque currently has a Clean Cities Department, which deals with

graffiti issues. The department performs the tasks of coordinating graffiti cleanup, as well as

nuisance abatement. In that capacity, department leaders supports appropriations to assist with

their efforts, or provide additional help with graffiti prevention or cleanup-related tasks.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

This appropriation will be administered through DFA, who has the capacity to fund and monitor

the project.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

1.

Why shouldn’t Albuquerque or Bernalillo County fund this project. Why are existing re-

sources through the Clean Cities program insufficient for this purpose.

DH/mt