Council holds meeting on PDN project

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - The Albuquerque city council is holding a special meeting to talk about funding for the Paseo del Norte reconstruction project. But is it necessary?

The meeting was announced after the mayor's office said a special election to vote on the project would cost $400,000. However, it could be much cheaper.

Isaac Benton, one of the city councilors who voted against funding the Paseo project back in March is getting ready to make an announcement.

Benton is one of three city councilor hold-outs on the Paseo project because of their 'no' vote, the issue was supposed to go to the voters on the November ballot.

However last week the Attorney General's office said the Paseo project may not qualify as an issue on the November ballot because it is a city issue and only county and state issues can appear on a general election ballot.

Monday, Attorney General Gary King said that does not mean city issues can not be voted on in November. He says they just can not share ballots.

King is saying one election and two ballots is what is confusing people.

A separate ballot would cost extra money but it would likely be a lot less than a special election.

“Allows the sharing of a lot different kinds of things like precinct boards, election supplies, canvassing, there's a laundry list of things that can be shared between those two elections,” King said.

A city spokesperson said they are going to wait until after Monday’s city council meeting to comment about any plans for a special election.

At stake is a $50 million bond awaiting voter approval and the frustration of thousands of drivers.

This could all go to the wayside if councilor Isaac Benton decided to vote for the Paseo project.

The attorney general says a decision to have a city ballot during a state election could open the flood gates for more city initiatives, like the minimum wage vote.