By Kevin Hendricks – The Paper.
Rio Rancho residents who voted in March to fund road repairs, public safety upgrades and quality-of-life improvements moved a step closer to seeing that money put to work Thursday night, as the city council approved the first reading of an ordinance to issue $18 million in general obligation bonds.
The bonds — broken into three voter-approved questions — allocate roughly $12.4 million for roads, $4.4 million for public safety needs and facilities, and $1.2 million for quality-of-life facility improvements, according to Financial Services Director Stephanie Yara. The city is targeting a bond sale date of June 24, with interest rates expected to land between 3.84% and 4.19% based on current municipal market benchmarks. The bonds would carry a 20-year maturity.
The Governing Body also opened public comment on the Recommended Fiscal Year 2027 Budget at its May 14 meeting. A second hearing follows May 28, when the body is also set to vote on adoption. The plan covers city operations from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027.
The proposed budget totals $452.3 million across all funds. The City’s two primary operating funds, the General Fund and the Utility Operating Fund, represent 55 percent of this total, with the General Fund — which covers core city services — being proposed at $169.9 million, and the Utility Operating Fund at $78.3 million.
Key investments include two new police officers, nine firefighter/EMTs being formally added ahead of Fire Station 8’s opening, a 5 percent pay adjustment for all city employees effective July 13, and expanded park and senior center staffing.
The governing body is expected to adopt the budget and capital program on May 28 before submitting it to the state by May 31. A final budget, accounting for minor adjustments from the close of FY26, will be approved in July.
Two residents used the public hearing on the city’s proposed FY2027 budget to raise concerns. One speaker, Stephan VanHorn, questioned why the budget omitted any mention of the city’s wastewater injection project despite what he called significant activity. Tom Dixon then pressed the council to spend $20,000 on vehicle barriers along a local pedestrian path, citing drag racing as a safety threat. “Somebody’s going to turn down that pedestrian path,” he warned. He also pressed the city to make budget documents more accessible for residents who want to review line-item details online.
The council also unanimously confirmed Councilor Karissa Culbreath as the new deputy mayor. Outgoing Deputy Mayor Jeremy Lenentine, who held the role for four years across two terms, nominated Culbreath, praising her work since joining the council during the pandemic.
The council additionally approved a site plan for a new Sandia Area Federal Credit Union branch at the Commerce Center Commercial development in Enchanted Hills, bringing drive-through, ATM and walk-in banking services to the area.
Speak at the FY 2027 Budget Public Hearing
When: Thursday, May 28, 6 p.m.
Where: Rio Rancho City Hall, 3200 Civic Center Circle NE, Rio Rancho
Budget adoption vote: May 28, 6 p.m.
Budget and capital program vote: May 28
State submission deadline: May 31
Final adopted budget: July governing body meeting
View the full budget: rrnm.gov/fy27budget