Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget Adoption topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Rio Rancho Public Schools adopts $253 million budget for 2025–26 school year
Summary
The Rio Rancho Public Schools Board of Education approved a $253 million budget for fiscal year 2025–26, including a 4% salary increase and a $6 million reserve; the vote was unanimous after a finance-committee review and a legislative boost to state funding.
The Rio Rancho Public Schools Board of Education approved a $253 million budget for the 2025–26 fiscal year during its May 12 meeting, adopting the plan at a roll-call vote after presentations by district finance staff.
The adopted budget estimates total revenue at about $253,000,000, including an estimated State Equalization Guarantee (SEG) of roughly $230,000,000; a beginning fund balance just under $16,000,000; and other revenue sources (user fees and taxes) of about $4.4 million. The board also maintained a board-policy reserve of $6,000,000.
Superintendent B.C. Cleveland and Chief Operations Officer Mike Baker told the board the budget keeps current programs largely intact while absorbing mandatory cost increases and some new operating costs. Baker said the district is counting on several factors that improved the revenue picture: a SEG increase, a $3 million statewide allocation for CTE startup, and higher transportation funding. Baker listed mandatory expenditures included in the budget: a 4% salary increase for all employees, increases in medical and dental premiums, and higher property and risk insurance costs. He also said first-year operating costs for a new program site (Rheotech) are estimated at about $1.5 million.
Board members said the district’s legislative work in Santa Fe helped stabilize revenues. Government-relations staff and legal counsel were credited for time spent during the session; board members and the superintendent made multiple trips to the roundhouse, the board said, to advocate for funding.
Board member Jeff Morgan moved to approve the budget; Gary Tripp seconded. A roll-call vote recorded yes votes from Vice President Jeff Morgan, Secretary Jessica Tyler, Board member Gary Tripp, Board member Beth Miller and the presiding board president; the motion passed unanimously.
The budget document will be transmitted to the Public Education Department as part of normal state review and is subject to any further adjustments required by the state. District officials noted the possibility of a special legislative session later in the year and said they will continue monitoring state-level actions that could affect revenue.
Board members thanked district finance staff and the district’s legislative team for the months of work that preceded the adoption and urged continued vigilance over state budget developments.
