By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper.
Rio Rancho residents will see direct impacts from city spending decisions Thursday night, when the Governing Body meets to adopt a $452 million spending plan for the coming fiscal year.
The Governing Body meets at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 28, at Council Chambers, 3200 Civic Center Circle NE. The session is also available via Zoom and live on the city’s website at rrnm.gov.
The centerpiece of the agenda is R40, a resolution to formally adopt the city’s Fiscal Year 2027 balanced budget. 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.
A tentative pay agreement with the Rio Rancho Police and Communications Association, reached in April, adds approximately $1.4 million above the already budgeted 5 percent cost-of-living raise for police personnel. The deal includes base rate increases of roughly 8.6 to 19.3 percent for officers ranked First Class through Sergeant, and introduces new incentives for higher education and instructor certifications, according to documents filed with the agenda.
Also on the agenda:
- Barbara Loop road project: Councilors will vote to award a $3.27 million contract to Albuquerque Asphalt, Inc. to reconstruct Barbara Loop from Sara Road to N.M. 528. The nine-month project includes a new water line, new sanitary sewer line, and ADA ramp improvements. Funding comes from city infrastructure funds, an NMDOT grant, and the Utilities Department.
- Sadie’s Rio Rancho: The body will hold a public hearing on a site plan for a new Sadie’s Restaurant with outdoor patio at 2225 Wellspring Ave. SE in the Cabezon area. The proposed 6,464-square-foot restaurant with a 2,322-square-foot covered outdoor dining area would include 200 seats and 125 parking spaces.
- CDBG funding: Councilors will vote to adopt the FY2027 Community Development Block Grant annual action plan, distributing $522,046 in federal HUD funds. Proposed recipients include Haven House shelter services ($34,670), St. Felix Pantry homelessness prevention ($19,260), ADA ramp remediation on Chayote Road ($250,000), and outdoor exercise equipment for the Broadmoor Senior Center ($84,249).
- Five-year capital plan: The body will vote to adopt the Infrastructure and Capital Improvement Plan for FY2027-2031, a 127-project, $942.9 million plan.
- Board appointment): Mayor Paul Wymer recommends reappointing Andrea Hankins to the Planning and Zoning Board for a term through May 31, 2029.
Get involved
Rio Rancho Governing Body Regular Meeting
When: Thursday, May 28, 6 p.m.
Where: Council Chambers, 3200 Civic Center Circle NE, Rio Rancho
Watch online: rrnm.gov/2303/Watch-and-Download-City-Meetings
Join via Zoom: Meeting ID 833 3815 7719 | Passcode: 554297 Dial in: +1 720-707-2699
Public comment: Register in person with the City Clerk no later than 5:45 p.m.
Budget details: rrnm.gov/fy27budget
CDBG comment: [email protected] or 505-677-4347