RIO RANCHO — The Rio Rancho Governing Body on Thursday approved the city’s recommended $452 million budget for 2027 and a $940 million infrastructure plan for the next five years.
But the unanimous decision from the five-member council, following a second public hearing, didn’t come without some discussion by members over a $1.4 million budget amendment for police compensation increases.
Prior to voting, councilors heard a presentation on the proposed budget and infrastructure plan from Rio Rancho finance director Stephanie Yara, who explained that the city and the Rio Rancho Police and Communications Association reached a tentative agreement, in part, of a 5% pay increase for all dispatch and non-sworn employees. The change, approved by the governing body, will go into effect July 13.
The increase will be paid for through a $1.5 million decrease in the unreserved fund balance and a $116,000 increase in the reserved fund balance, Yara told councilors. Without the amendment, the city proposed a 27% ending fund balance but will have a 25.4% ending fund balance if the amendment is approved, she said…