Rio Rancho’s city manager has recommended a $146.6 million budget that prioritizes investments in public safety along with upgrades to community infrastructure and efforts to retain city employees.
Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull and the City Council received City Manager Matt Geisel’s recommended budget for the 2025 fiscal year on April 15.
Public Safety
The recommended budget prioritizes public safety, which accounts for 46.6 percent of General Fund expenditures (excluding transfers).
Geisel recommended adding 15 new positions for public safety.
The proposed police and fire positions include:
- A new corporal position for the police department to supervise a new Quality of Life Unit.
- A new sergeant position, two Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) administrator positions.
- A Rescue Department lieutenant position for the EMS division and a new captain position for the Fire Marshal’s Office.
Equipment for the police and fire departments include:
- Noise meters to measure sound levels to aid enforcement of the Unreasonable Noise Ordinance ($10,000 nonrecurring).
- A new police dog ($18,000 nonrecurring).
- An armory gun rack ($8,000 nonrecurring).
- Replacing about 18 police vehicles ($1,543,540).
- Replace cardiac monitors/defibrillators ($105,840 nonrecurring).
Employee Retainment
“I recommend more investment in the local government’s most important resource—its personnel,” Geisel said in the letter to the governing body.
He proposed a 5 percent cost-of-living adjustment for all local government employee groups to keep up with competition, subject to collective bargaining.
The adjustment would become effective from the first full pay period in July 2024, with estimated recurring costs in the 2025 fiscal year at $2,298,875 from the General Fund and $258,534 for other funds.
Water Rate Hike
There is also a recommendation for a 1.75 percent water rate adjustment.
“This action will help ensure that the utility does not lose ground in its efforts to maintain and improve the water and wastewater system for the City’s residents and businesses,” wrote Geisel.
The proposed water rate adjustment will raise the average monthly customer bill by about 94 cents, leading to an estimated $443,000 in additional revenue for the Utility through a 1.75% adjustment.
Cannabis Fund
The Cannabis Fund is responsible for collecting taxes on the sales of recreational cannabis within Rio Rancho. It is projected to generate $400,000 in revenue for the 2025 fiscal year. The funds will be used to finance improvements to the community center building.
A proposed $1,252,000 will be allocated to the City Facilities Improvements/Replacement Fund 313 to finance the projects.
- Star Heights Recreation Center improvements ($555,000) comprised of emergency lighting and exit sign replacement ($55,000); partial roof and skylight replacement ($150,000); HVAC replacement ($60,000); HVAC evaluation, testing, and upgrade ($160,000); and fire alarm upgrade ($130,000).
- Rainbow Pool improvements ($90,000 total) comprised of emergency lighting and exit sign replacement ($10,000); HVAC evaluation, testing, and upgrade ($40,000); and fire alarm upgrades (40,000).
- Aquatic Center improvements ($350,000) including water softener replacement/upgrade ($60,000); HVAC upgrade ($160,000); replacement of pool deck lighting ($50,000); and fire alarm upgrades ($80,000).
- Animal Resource Center HVAC replacement ($120,000).
- Sabana Grande Community Center HVAC replacement ($35,000).
- Sports Complex South HVAC replacement ($12,000).
- Cabezon Community Center fire alarm upgrade ($30,000).
- Haynes Community Center fire alarm upgrade (60,000).
“The City’s financial outlook is positive… the U.S. economy defies expectations: monthly employment gains remain robust; GDP growth is more substantial than expected; inflation has moderated some and surprisingly, consumer confidence seems to improve. This last point is perhaps the most surprising given persistent inflation and high-interest rates,” Geisel said in his letter to the governing body.
How to Participate
The Governing Body will review the proposed budget at a budget hearing on Thursday, April 25, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The hearing will take place at City Hall, 3200 Civic Center Circle.
The hearing will be streamed live and archived on the City’s website.
The Governing Body will take public comments on the recommended budget during its regular monthly meetings at City Hall on May 9 and May 23, starting at 6 p.m. The vote to adopt a budget for FY 25 will take place during the Governing Body’s May 23 meeting.
The full Recommended Budget can be viewed here.