Bill could end red light camera program

CITY LEADERS SAYS THE STATE IS WORKING TO NICKEL AND DIME ALBUQUERQUE S RED-LIGHT CAMERA PROGRAM TO DEATH IT ALL HAS TO DO WITH A BILL THAT S MAKING SOME HEADWAY IN THE STATE SENATE THIS WEEK JEFF MAHER SPENT THE DAY LOOKING INTO THE PROPOSAL THAT HAS THE CITY SO NERVOUS HE S LIVE TO EXPLAIN WHAT HE FOUND TONIGHT CITY LEADERS ARE ANXIOUS TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS AT THE STATE CAPITOL CITY COUNCILORS SAY - IF STATE LAWMAKERS GET THEIR WAY– YOU CAN KISS THE RED- LIGHT CAMERA PROGRAM GOODBYE if this bill does pass then we re going to have to make a decision to the council - whether we can operationally fund the program CITY LEADERS SAY THE FUTURE DOES NOT LOOK BRIGHT FOR THE RED-LIGHT PROGRAM IF THE SENATE BILL PASSES it s going to take away all of the money the program makes and take it up to the state - so we re not going to get any of that money yet we re still going to have to pay for the operational part of it if they are taking revenues from the city then it will be definitely be taken out because there would just not be enough revenues to operate the program THE BILL SPONSOR— STATE SENATOR MICHAEL SANCHEZ— SAYS THE STATE HAS EVERY RIGHT TO GET ITS HANDS ON THE MONEY AND BELIEVES THE CITY HAS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO SPARE SANCHEZ SAYS THE BILL WOULD TAKE MOST OF THE MONEY TO PAY OFF BONDS USED TO BUILD COURTHOUSES AROUND THE STATE I don t think if the bill passes it would be the end of the red light camera program we re for public safety and we think it has done some good there SOME CITY OFFICIALS BELIEVE SENATOR SANCHEZ WANTS TO DRAIN THE FUNDS UNTIL THE PROGRAM CRUMBLES SANCHEZ SAYS THAT S NOT HIS PLAN we re sure the viability of the program is in tact and the city of albuquerque will be able to finance it I just think that they don t think we can take care of business - and so they re going to do it WITHIN THE LAST HOUR WE CONTACT THE MAYOR - HE FIRED BACK WITH THIS RESPONSE there s no question it s problematic certainly the state is out of money and they need our help my hope is they use it for hard core public safety initiatives rather than paying off the scandals of the metropolitan courthouse they can take the money but i hope they leave enough for us to run the program SENATOR SANCHEZ SAYS THEY MAY CHANGE THE BILL - SO THE CITY CAN KEEP THE MONEY IT NEEDS TO KEEP THE PROGRAM GOING LIVE IN NORTHEAST ALBUQUERQUE JEFF MAHER EYEWITNESS NEWS FOUR A POLICE CHASE ENDS WITH A CAR