By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Raton City Commissioners met on Tuesday March 24, 2026, with a wide range of items on their agenda including receiving guidelines for budget preparations, an MOU with Las Animas County and zoning matters passed on from the planning and zoning commission.
Commissioners began the business part of the meeting discussing budget preparations that will begin in earnest this coming month. Department heads will get with their staff then present their requests to the commission. Commissioners will have meetings with the department heads and after budget hearings an interim budget will be prepared and approved by the commission to be sent on to the state by June 1st. After the state approves the budget, the city will then operate from the final budget.
City Treasurer Michael Anne Antonucci feels the income for the city will be tighter as there will be less construction this year but will pick up next year as the city will see additional construction with the I-25 Clayton Road interchange construction and the new school getting underway this fall. Health insurance increases will also affect the budget as premium prices are increasing as well as other insurances seeing an increase as well.
Do It Right Pyro presented a proposal for the 2026 July 4th fireworks show. The cost of the show this year is over $45,000, which includes $3,500 increase in insurance costs for a total of $7500 for liability insurance. Scott Johnson noted the show this year will last about 26 minutes and will begin the show with three minutes dedicated to the American flag being lit up with the ”Ragged Old Flag” by Johnny Cash playing in the background.
Commissioners discussed an MOU with the Las Animas County office of Emergency Management for fire mitigation, watershed protection and mutual aid between the city and the county. The primary area of concern is the Lake Maloya watershed which now includes the Fisher Peak State Park area. If a fire was to begin in the Lake Dorothy area the city could respond quickly and without having to ask Las Animas County to do so.
A grant agreement with the FAA was presented for design work on the reseal/resurface work on Taxiway A. The grant will cover the design work for $63,433.
Commissioners received Lodger’s Tax Advisory Board recommendations for work to be done on the 2026 Raton Visitors Guide by the Center for Community Innovation, which is asking for $2000 for the distribution of the Visitor’s Guide. The Beautification Coalition sponsored by Raton MainStreet is asking for $8660 with $6,660 from the contingency fund and $2000 from the Parks and Recreation fund to once again place flower baskets along First and Second Streets in the downtown area. Commissioners would like to see a little color in the south end of town and to have the downtown merchants help with the watering and maintenance of the flowerpots. Raton MainStreet is asking for $2175 to place ads in the 2026 Visitors Guide which will include full page ads for the balloon rally and the gate city music festival.
The final approval of the vacation of alleys and streets near Highway 555 by Si Trujillo was presented to the city commission for their final approval. The planning and zoning commission gave their final approval for the vacation last week. Commissioners approved the plat and vacated the alleys and streets which Trujillo noted were only lines on a map and didn’t exist on the property.
Commissioners received a request from Cameron and Jessica Roundtree to subdivide a 4.6167 acre of land in the Extraterritorial Zone west of the Raton city limits off of Kearney Ave. The property is part of a 55-acre parcel of land and in order for the company, Lumen Technology, to purchase the four acres the property will need to be subdivided. The Planning and Zoning Commission heard the request last week and have given their approval to subdivide the land. The commission approved the request, and it will now go back to the Planning and Zoning commission for a final plat and will then be brought back to the commission for their final approval.
City Treasurer Michael Anne Antonucci presented the February 2026 financial report for approval. The report continues to see an increase in Gross Receipts Taxes with a 6.99% increase above budget for January. Antonucci is working with department heads to get grants updated and prepared for the end of the fiscal year. Gas tax is still showing a decline while the cannabis tax is showing an increase. Lodger’s Tax is seeing a huge drop after the closure of the old Motel 6 which will impact Lodger’s Tax monies available for event promotions.
Interim City Manager Neil Segotta gave his report which included the meeting with the Picarius tribe and the negotiations with the police officer’s union continues. $650 million for infrastructure improvements was approved at the state level. The Aquatic center is now a red cross lifeguard training facility. Sand grates will be cleaned and an acid wash of the pools will be done while the aquatic center is down for repairs.
The commission then voted to enter an executive session to go over city manager applications the city has received so far.
Commissioners will meet again on April 14, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in the city commission chambers at City Hall.
