At the regular County Commission meeting on Tuesday, April 22, Bernalillo County Assessor Damian Lara shared the progress made by his office and outlined future plans for 2025 and 2026. His focus remains on helping residential and commercial property owners, seniors, veterans, and low-income families by offering various support programs and services.
Key Programs Helping the Community
Assessor Lara highlighted several important initiatives that continue to support different groups across the county:
Know Your Value Campaign
The “Know Your Value” campaign encourages property owners to check their property assessments and apply for tax-saving programs. These programs mainly benefit low-income homeowners, seniors, disabled individuals, and veterans.
Thanks to recent changes in the New Mexico Constitution, starting in 2026, the veteran exemption will increase from $4,000 to $10,000. Also, instead of only fully disabled veterans getting exemptions, a new tiered system based on the percentage of disability will be introduced.
Supporting Housing Growth
The Assessor’s Office plays an active role in helping both single-family and multi-family property owners.
For the 2025 tax year, Bernalillo County added about 675 new single-family homes and 2,500 multi-family living units. This comes at a time when rents and mortgages are rising across the area.
Substandard Property and Cost to Cure Program
The office identified over 100 substandard properties that need attention. To help improve these, they promote the “Cost to Cure” program, which encourages property owners to repair, remodel, or sell neglected properties.
One successful example is the Gizmo Store in downtown Albuquerque, which had been empty for years and is now finally under renovation. So far, the office has received 34 applications under this program, showing positive community engagement.
Assessor’s Message to Property Owners
Assessor Lara emphasized that fair and accurate property valuations remain the office’s top priority. He encourages everyone to regularly check their property values and take advantage of available tax savings programs.
“The key for every property owner is to double-check your value and tax savings programs, and ‘Know Your Value,’” he advised.
Plans for 2025 and 2026
Looking ahead, Assessor Lara plans to introduce several staff-focused initiatives aimed at creating a healthier and more supportive work environment:
- Enhanced Training: Improving staff skills to serve the community better.
- Green Leave Policy: Encouraging employees to walk, bike, or use public transport at least three days a week.
- Bilingual Leave Benefit: Supporting employees who use their Spanish language skills to help Spanish-speaking residents.
- Early Release/Revised Work Schedules: Allowing flexible work timings during bad weather or major events that affect office operations.
Lara summed it up by saying, “Our employees are our internal customers, and a good work and life balance is very important to maintain a healthy, happy, and productive staff.”
The Bernalillo County Assessor’s Office continues to focus on transparency, fairness, and helping the community grow stronger. With programs like “Know Your Value,” new housing support, and property improvement efforts, the office is making a real difference. Moving into 2025 and 2026, the focus will also be on staff wellbeing, making sure employees are supported while delivering the best service to residents. These steps reflect a vision for a better, stronger Bernalillo County where everyone knows the true value of their property and their community.
