By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Raton City Commissioners gathered Tuesday evening October 27, 2026, for their last regular meeting of October where they viewed the audit report for 2026.
Paul Garcia presented the audit report noting that they started the audit a bit late and had a staffing issue but did meet the deadline. There was a qualified opinion for RPS on the inventory but otherwise no other problems were identified. Garcia noted that he will begin with RPS next week and that the city will be the only audit he has on the books for the next couple of weeks.
Commissioners were presented with an intergovernmental agreement for the Restoring our Communities (ROC) program funding. The county participated in the program over the last two years with two homes in Raton being remodeled. Mortgage Finance Authority is hoping to recover 85% of the investment after the remodel which has been difficult to do in Raton. The program in Raton has managed to get about $400,000 of the outside funding from MFA. MFA has a web site https://housingnm.org/service-providers/restoring-our-communities-program that can provide more information on the program. According to Monica Abeita, Executive Director of Northcentral New Mexico Economic Development District the NCNMEDD is designated as the service provider for the project. NCNMEDD has helped with the affordable housing project in Colfax County and was able to move some of that project into the ROC program as part of the affordable housing program.
According to Scott Berry who is responsible for finding homes in Raton to try to procure a home which will fit in the program. There have been two more homes in Raton that are in the process of being acquired into the ROC program. He has contacted several property owners, and many have turned the ROC program down after the appraisal of the property has come in lower than the property owner feels the property is worth. The ROC program has used several intern students to help the contractors with the work. Berry noted that there are about 400 homes on the list he has of those there may be 82 prospects for the ROC program. The agreement was approved.
Commissioners approved the event form for the American Legion Post #5 Veteran’s Day ceremony to be held on November 11, 2026, at Veteran’s Park on Legion drive. The Raton Mainstreet’s Festival of Lights event will be held on November 27, 2026, on Historic First Street following the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Ripley Park at 5:00 p.m. That event form was also approved.
Commissioners discussed their legislative capital outlay priorities for the upcoming legislative session in January 2027. The Lake Maloya Dam project is still the top priority on the ICIP followed by drainage and storm drain work, Raton PD vehicle replacement, City public works equipment purchases and wastewater plant improvements for the top five priorities on the ICIP which is a road map for the capital outlay requests. A request for Governor Capital Outlay money should be designated for the Kearney Film School since the Governor has funded it previously. The Lake Maloya Dam project will continue to seek Water Trust Board funding so may not be a great request for capital outlay. Phillips thinks that ADA compliant project for the parks should be in the top five since the dam project is a Water Trust board funding request.
Commissioners heard from City Treasurer Miachael Anne Antonucci on the final approval of the City of Raton Budget from the Department of Finance and Administration.
Antonucci also presented the first quarter financial report for FY27. The GRT came in .70% below budget or about $28,953.66. Both the Lodger’s Tax (3.57%) and Gas tax (5.95%) are below last year’s tax income at the same time. Cannabis is also down 1.13% from last year.
Budget Adjustment #3 for FY27 was also presented for approval with line-item adjustments for insurance premiums and transfers for the animal shelter. Also transfers for EMS services and having to segregate NM Health Care grant funding.
City Manager Neil Segotta informed the commission that the work has concluded on Second Street with work being done on time. 30 participants on the training they had last week. Animal Shelter project is continuing and should be completed by the end of next month. City hall has new counters and that work is continuing. Visited Red Feather in Walsenburg to see their housing work and are looking into what the city can do to bring in some housing to Raton.
The Commissioners next meeting will be on November 11, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at Raton City Hall.
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