City commission approves budget, tax rate and a package of ordinances and contracts

Rio Grande City commissioners approved the city’s fiscal 2025–26 budget and a proposed tax rate of $0.53 per $100 of assessed value and took votes on a series of ordinances, contracts and grant applications during their Aug. 28 meeting.

The commission adopted the proposed municipal budget for Oct. 1, 2025–Sept. 30, 2026 and voted to set the tax rate at 0.53, which the city finance director said would increase maintenance-and-operations revenue compared with last year and generate funds intended for capital projects and staffing increases. The commission also approved multiple second readings of local ordinances and a range of contracts and grant actions during the meeting.

Why it matters: Adopting the budget and tax rate funds planned capital projects identified by city staff and elected officials — including a planned West-side fire substation, an animal-control facility and street-paving work — and backs new pay-scale and staffing steps the city included in its proposed operating plan for 2025–26.

Major actions and outcomes

- Budget and tax rate: The commission approved the fiscal 2025–26 budget on first reading and adopted a tax rate of 0.53 per $100 valuation (maintenance and operations rate…