Bernalillo County, Santa Fe officials vote on key housing initiatives

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Bernalillo County commissioners and Santa Fe city councilors voted on some key housing initiatives Tuesday.

County commissioners approved $666,153 in additional funds for the Veteran’s Integration Center of New Mexico.

Last December, the commission approved $3.5 million from the county’s behavioral health gross receipt taxes to help the VIC build a transitional living campus for veterans and their families.

In March, they broke ground on the new campus near I-25 and Gibson.

The money commissioners just approved will cover the additional costs brought on by inflation and post-pandemic price increases.

When it’s finished, the campus will offer 42 temporary housing units. There will also be services, including mental health, financing planning and employment.

The VIC is expected to open in May 2024.

In Santa Fe, voters will get to have a say in a new affordable housing initiative. City councilors voted to put it on the November 7 ballot.

If voters approve it, the city will implement a one-time 3% tax on homes sold for over $1 million.

That tax will only apply to the amount over $1 million. If you have a $1.5 million home, they would tax the $0.5 million.

Officials say that would generate $6 million a year. That will go to groups like Habitat for Humanity and other local nonprofits to build affordable housing. It’ll also go toward providing critical services for homeless people.