August 15, 2008
Rio Rancho Journal
Plan Describes $640 Million in Infrastructure Projects
By Rosalie Rayburn, Journal Staff WriterCity staff have outlined a six-year, $640 million plan to tackle Rio Rancho's infrastructure needs.
The Infrastructure and Capital Improvement Plan city councilors adopted at their meeting Wednesday will provide the basis for the city to seek funding from the state Legislature or other sources such as loans, bonds and grants.
State law requires all municipalities to submit plans for their capital spending needs each year. The plan covers projects that cost at least $10,000, with a useful life of at least 10 years, according to a briefing memo provided to city councilors.
It identifies 432 projects scheduled from fiscal 2009 through fiscal 2014. Total spending in the first year is projected at about $10.85 million, rising to $177 million in 2010 and peaking at $212 million in 2011. Spending is projected at $91 million in 2012, $76 million in 2013 and $70 million in 2014.
Spending in the second and third years of the plan is higher because economic conditions dictated a tight budget for fiscal 2009, which began July 1. Projects that couldn't be funded in 2009 have been planned for 2010-2011, the memo said.
Gross receipts taxes, the city's chief source of revenue, dropped about 7 percent last year.
The city intends to pursue other sources of funding next year, such as general obligation bonds, which will help pay for infrastructure project spending in the future, the memo said.
Although voters in October rejected a proposal to issue bonds to help build a sports complex in northern Rio Rancho, the plan shows the city is still committed to such a project. The plan anticipates the complex would cost $21 million and identifies state, county and bonds as possible funding sources.
The plan shows funds were not available in the fiscal 2009 budget for projects to build roads to the new V. Sue Cleveland High School and the Central New Mexico Community College campus.
The high school road is expected to cost $6.4 million. Road access to the new CNM campus is projected to cost $694,900. The plan anticipates funds for both projects in the 2010 budget.
The plan is intended to be a working document that will help the city prioritize projects and adjust budgets as necessary. City public works department staff compiled the list from information submitted by a majority of city departments, the memo said.