Albuquerque Public Schools
APS Board Approves Budget
Spending plan includes continuation of TOPS model, 4% pay increases for employees.
The Board of Education voted 6-0 on Wednesday to pass Albuquerque Public Schools’ 2026 fiscal year budget and will now send the document to the state Public Education Department for final approval.
The $2.25 billion budget is highlighted by a 4% salary increase for the district’s more than 11,000 employees, part of the overall state budget passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor earlier this spring. Overall, the budget is about 4.67% higher than the 2025 fiscal year budget.
“This is a student-centered budget that keeps our focus where it belongs – on creating the learning environments, opportunities and support every child needs to thrive,” Superintendent Gabriella Blakey told board members.
Dr. Blakey praised Chief Financial Officer Rennette Apodaca, Rosalinda Montoya, executive director of budget and strategic planning, and the rest of the finance team for their incredible work on the budget.
The budget process began early in the school year, with the board holding listening sessions around the community to get public input on priorities.
Based on feedback, and working to align the budget to APS goals and guardrails, the finance team worked throughout the year to hone allocations, including a significant change to how the district distributes some of the funding it receives from the federal government. Though federal money is baked into every school’s budget off the top, school-based Title I funds were altered to create a more equitable allocation of resources.
Other key drivers included the wish to continue promising programs in the district’s Strategic Performance Framework such as TOPS, in which schools receive added funding to create innovative educational models that provide additional instructional time and keep students focused and engaged.
Board Vice President Courtney Jackson praised the budget.
“We as a board have asked you to align to student outcomes, and you’ve done that,” she said.
The finance team projected a $4.7 million deficit in the 2026 budget. That shortfall, created in part by declining enrollment, was covered by reserve funds. Enrollment is a critical factor in how districts are funded by the state. APS has about 65,000 students.
The total budget for the upcoming fiscal year includes $1.09 billion in operational funds, $659.9 million in capital funds, nearly $205 million for debt service, $114.5 million in federal grants, and other funding for such things as school meals and busing of students. The new fiscal year begins on July 1.