Rio Rancho voters pass $18M bonds; judge re-elected, council races await canvass

Rio Rancho voters approved three general obligation bond questions totaling $18,000,000 in the March 3 municipal election, with unofficial results posted by the New Mexico Secretary of State and reported by local outlets indicating passage. The ballot set included $12,435,000 earmarked for roads, $4,365,000 for public safety and $1,200,000 for quality-of-life facilities, and the city also reported the municipal judge was re-elected and several council races were set while the mayoral contest will proceed to an April 14 runoff; official counts are awaiting the canvass.

City Council earlier placed the bond questions on the ballot through resolution R-115. “Council moved and seconded to approve R-115. No members of the public signed up to speak on the item. Ms. Davis called the roll; Councilors Weimer, Linnentine, Culbreth, Tyler, Dabson and List voted yes and the resolution to place the questions on the ballot passed,” the council record shows.

City staff framed the measures as fiscally neutral to taxpayers at the council meeting. “Director Jaramillo told the council the resolution would place three questions before voters: $12,435,000 for roads; $4,365,000 for public safety; and $1,200,000 for quality-of-life facilities.” Jaramillo also cautioned voters that “the votes of the people would leave the municipal debt service tax rate unchanged because previously issued bonds have been paid off and retired.” The council packet cited support from the spring 2025 citizen survey and advisory bodies including the citizen library board, parks and recreation commission, and the public infrastructure advisory board.

Voters cast ballots at one of 14 Election Day voting convenience centers across the city, open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on March 3. Locations listed by the city included Broadmoor Senior Center (Clerk’s Annex), 3241 Broadmoor Blvd.; Loma Colorado Library, 755 Loma Colorado Blvd.; Cabezon Community Center, 2307 Cabezon Blvd.; The Hub at Enchanted Hills, 7845 Enchanted Hills Blvd.; Cielo Azul Elementary, 3804 Shiloh Rd.; Puesta Del Sol Elementary, 450 Southern Blvd.; Haynes Community Center, 2006 Grande Blvd. SE; Esther Bone Library, 950 Pinetree Rd. SE; Star Heights Recreation Center, 800 Polaris Blvd.; Rio Rancho Middle School, 1600 Loma Colorado Blvd.; Joe Harris Elementary School, 2100 10th St.; Colinas Del Norte Elementary School, 1001 Night Sky Ave.; and two additional city sites identified by address in the official notice. The city advised that “Same day voter registration will be available at all Election Day voting locations for individuals to register or update their current voter registration.” It reiterated voting requirements: “In order to vote on Election Day, an individual must be a Rio Rancho registered voter and present one current identification card containing their name and photograph.”

While the headline-level outcomes show bond measures passing, the municipal judge re-elected and council races set, the city and state have not yet certified final tallies; the Secretary of State posting remains unofficial until the canvass completes certification. The bond approvals, if certified, will authorize the city to move forward on the slate of projects listed in council staff materials tied to the road, public safety and quality-of-life allocations.