The city of Española was supposed to approve its 2014 budget at a meeting Tuesday, but it was over almost as soon as it started.
After the roll call—councilors Robert Seeds, Peggy Martinez, Dennis Tim Salazar and Corey Lewis were in attendance—and comments from the council, Mayor Alice Lucero read from a prepared statement.
“When we began the budget process review for 2014, we had a $320,858 deficit due to the department requests,” she said. “After three meetings we are at a $419,219 deficit and so instead of making ground and reducing the deficit this council has increased the margin.
“This council wanted to be involved in the preparation of the 2014 budget from the beginning,” Lucero continued. “With all due respect, in good faith and in an effort to work together, I agreed to allow the council’s involvement from the beginning.
“This has not been an effective process due to the unprofessional behavior of some councilors,” she said. “There has been a complete disregard for the city’s needs in critical areas, such as finance. Some councilors are attempting to micromanage the city manager and department heads through the budget process. Additionally, some councilors have targeted certain individuals and departments in retaliation because they have not allowed them to interfere with the way they manage their departments.
“Our employees have come to me, indicating that they are being insulted, intimidated and they feel bullied. I find this type of behavior to be inappropriate and unacceptable,” Lucero continued. “And it is my duty as mayor to stand up for our citizens and defend the rights of our employees. So at this time I am turning the meeting over to the mayor pro-tem.”
When the mayor left, the council no longer had a quorum. Wastewater Chief Operator Perry Vigil asked the remaining councilors how the budget was going to get finalized.
“That’s a very good question and we do not have an answer for it,” Salazar said.
City Clerk Tessa Mascareñas advised the council that the budget could be moved to the May 28 council meeting, which they agreed to, and adjourned.