Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Finance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Ruidoso Downs council sets Dec. 26 public hearing on mayor, council pay increases
Summary
The council approved notices of intent for two ordinances to adjust mayor and council compensation and scheduled a special public hearing for Dec. 26, 2025 at 5:30 p.m.; city attorney warned constitutional limits on retroactive pay increases apply.
The Ruidoso Downs City Council voted at its Dec. 8 meeting to approve notices of intent to adopt Ordinance 2025-09 (mayor compensation) and Ordinance 2025-10 (council compensation) and set a special public hearing for Dec. 26, 2025 at 5:30 p.m.
City attorney Nan Winter reminded the council of Article IV, Section 27 of the New Mexico Constitution, which prevents a governing body from giving extra compensation to an officer for services already rendered or increasing compensation during a sitting officer’s term in ways that would apply retroactively. Winter said any increase would apply only in the manner allowed by the constitution and explained the timing constraints for the change to affect incoming officials.
Council discussion focused on timing — whether to hold the public hearing before the organizational meeting in January or afterward — and how any approved changes would apply to incoming or current officeholders. Several councilors noted that if the ordinance is passed in 2025 it would apply to elected officials taking office on Jan. 1 only in certain circumstances described by counsel.
What’s next: a public hearing on the compensation ordinances is scheduled for Dec. 26, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. in council chambers; the council may adopt, amend or deny the ordinances after that hearing.
