Santa Fe is weighing major changes to how it builds its annual budgets, with supporters of an overhaul saying the City Council is largely cut out of the current mayor-dominated process.

The councilors who are pushing for change have allies in both new City Manager Mark Scott and city Senior Adviser Rod Gould, who has been drawing on his experience working for municipalities in other states as he helps to spearhead the effort.

Councilors cannot change the overall amount of money in the budget currently, meaning any amendments to increase spending need to be offset by decreases elsewhere. And the budget priorities for each department are determined before the budget is presented to councilors, who may not agree with what was left out.

“I have no idea what was left on the cutting room floo

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