The Rio Rancho Governing Body held a regular meeting on February 12, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers. The meeting included approvals of consent calendar items, a first reading of an ordinance authorizing $25 million in utility revenue bonds, and acceptance of the Fiscal Year 2025 audit report with no findings. The meeting adjourned at 6:22 PM.
All consent calendar items were approved by a vote of 6 FOR and 0 AGAINST (Councilor Dapson, Lenentine, Tyler, Wymer, Culbreath, List all in favor).
Stephanie Yara, Director of Financial Services, presented the ordinance seeking reauthorization of up to $25 million in utility revenue bonds, originally approved in November 2025 but expiring after 120 days due to unfavorable market conditions. The bonds would fund capital improvement projects (CIP) for the water utility, with a total five-year utility CIP plan of approximately $233 million. The ordinance also authorizes refunding (refinancing) up to $38.4 million of existing debt (Series 2015 bonds and New Mexico Finance Authority loans) to achieve potential savings of up to $1.95 million over 20 years without extending debt maturity or requiring rate increases. The estimated all-in interest rate for the new bonds is 3.554%.
Mayor Hull expressed strong support, praising staff for the city's upgraded bond ratings and financial discipline that enabled savings for ratepayers. Councilor List concurred, noting the finance department's numerous awards and the city's excellent budget position.
The motion to approve O1 passed unanimously with a vote of 6 FOR and 0 AGAINST.
Stephanie Yara presented the resolution approving the fiscal year 2025 audit conducted by Hinkle + Landers, PC (new auditors). Farley Vener, President of Hinkle + Landers, reported an unmodified (clean) opinion on the financial statements and an unmodified opinion on compliance with federal awards. There were no audit findings reported for either component.
Discussion featured Mayor Hull and Councilor List commending the entire city staff for achieving another clean audit with no findings, underscoring transparency and fiscal responsibility. Mayor Hull also noted that annual audits are legally required for all government agencies.
The motion to approve R12 passed unanimously with a vote of 6 FOR and 0 AGAINST.
The meeting adjourned at 6:22 PM.
Good evening. Please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. Let's see here. Counselor Lennon, would you lead us, please? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice. For all please remain standing if we take a moment of silence and reflection for our first responders and the fact that they're always out there putting their lives in harm's way to protect us. And so with that, let's just take a moment of uh reflection. Thank you for that. And go ahead and call this meeting to order. And I will ask everybody to please silence their cell phones as I take the same advice. And let's see here. For the record, I'll announce the names of the governing body members. And when I say your name, please acknowledge your presence by saying present. Counselor Dabson. Present. Thank you. Counselor Lennon Time. Present. Thank you. Counselor Tyler, present. Thank you. Counselor Weimer. Present. Thank you. Counselor Colbreth. Present. Thank you. And Councilor List. Thank you. Okay. Moving on to public forum. Do we have anybody signed up to speak? No, Mr. Mayor, we do not. Thank you. Any comments by counselors? Hearing none. Oh, I'm sorry, yes, Councillor List. Sorry, I'm trying to find my note real quick so I get this correct. I just wanted to give a shout out to Real Rancho Fire and Rescue. We have the honor and privilege of this week or next week having our fire chief at a specialized training. There were applicants from all over the United States and Canada, and only 24 fire chiefs were selected. And so let me just get this correct. He is at the Fire Service Executive Development Institute. And so this is a super huge honor and privilege for the city of Real Rancho. So congratulations to all the men and women of Real Rancho Fire. Thank you. All right. And just as another quick note, the uh friends and lovers ballooning event is going to be this weekend as well.