By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Raton City Commissioners met Tuesday evening May 12, 2026, for a special budget work session followed by a lengthy regular city commission meeting where they heard two presentations and acted on several agreements.
City Treasurer Michael Anne Antonucci began the budget workshop noting the budget is about 240 pages long. She noted the increase in insurance premiums, increase in PERA contributions and a small salary increase for employees. The expected budget revenue is $6,552,258 with expenses at $7,048,078. The city is hoping to see GRT income from construction projects that are estimated to be about $10,558,281in the upcoming year. This year GRT and other taxes are expected to be about $5,036,635 or 76.87% of the revenue. Fees should bring in about $808,154 and Miscellaneous income at $707,469. With Transfers in and out the city is looking at a $388,861 shortfall.
Antonucci then went over many of the finer details with salaries and other items including grants and agreements. She noted that law enforcement protection funds and EMS funds have seen an increase and will aid in the funding for those departments. Discussions began with how to fix the deficit. Mayor Chatterley asked about any one-time expenses that can be moved to using reserves for those items. Discussion moved to construction projects and city building maintenance noting that some will be completed this fiscal year and will not carry over into the next fiscal year. Commissioners will meet again on May 20, 2026,at 6:00 p.m. for another budget workshop.
Commissioners began the meat of their meeting with a presentation by Director of Community and Economic Development, Synthia Molina on Economic development, Community development and Organizational development. Where these three developments intersect is where the city should consider promoting the city to attract businesses that meet these needs. Mayor Pro-Tem Mark Honeyfield asked Molina what businesses she has attracted to Raton and she was unable to give a specific example but mentioned a side hustle and she has helped the local dry cleaner create a succession plan to keep that business open.
Commissioners held a public hearing and discussion on the FY27 Interim Budget for the city of Raton. The final interim budget will be presented at the May 26, 2026, city commission meeting. Meetings with department heads will be held so that the different departments can see where they can cut or what their specific needs are.
Commissioners held a public hearing and acted on amending Ordinance 1037 which deals with Nuisances in the City of Raton. This is to update the ordinance to better define junk, abandoned vehicles, and other nuisances. The update also allows for a hearing examiner to settle differences. Commissioners approved the updates.
Another public hearing and discussion was held on Ordinance 1038 which deals with the Vacant Building Registration. This update clarifies and updates the definition of the vacant buildings and has an additional way to contest a vacant building designation. The update also allows for a hearing examiner to settle differences. One concern is the house or building needs to be occupied for 180 days a year and how does that affect the vacation home where residents are only here a small portion of the year. Honeyfield notes it needs to be better defined so the city can better help part time residents. Mayor Chatterley setup an AdHoc Committee to work on the amendments to the ordinance and also approved the updates for now.
Raton Mainstreet Board President Christine Valentini gave a report the progress and activities of Raton Mainstreet for the past two years and what the group is looking forward to this upcoming year. Valentini reported on the events that they have held in Raton and the many funding awards Mainstreet has secured for Raton and the downtown area. She noted they were the winner of the 2025 Great American Mainstreet Award. She noted the organization has over 4000 volunteer hours by 371 volunteers.
Valentini has asked the city for an additional $10,000 over the next two years to help cover health insurance for the executive director. The city has provided $50,000 for the past four years. The organization has been accredited by the national Mainstreet and in order to keep the accreditation the director has travel and other responsibilities. Commissioners then approved the Biennial MOU with Raton Mainstreet and approved resolution 2026-23 supporting a Public Private economic development Mainstreet project. The concern is that Mainstreet is funded by Lodger’s Tax and Lodger’s Tax is seeing a shortfall. Can the city tap into the Air B&B market to prop up some lodger’s tax income. Commissioners will discuss this further at the next budget workshop to see where the lodger’s tax income is at and see if they can make it work. Commissioners will make a decision at the next regular meeting.
Commissioners approved the event forms for two Raton Mainstreet events, the International Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally to be held on July 3rd – 5th along with the Raton Mainstreet July 4th celebration event to be held on Historic First Street in Raton.
Commissioners discussed the Lodger’s Tax non promo fund requests for the Raton Museum and the Raton Arts and Humanities. The city has used non-promotional funds to help fund the Raton Museum in the past. The museum is requesting $32,400 for their operations and $18,000 for the Arts and Humanities. Kathy McQuery noted that while visitation is down, they are seeing many visitors from not only regionally but some international visitors. Patricia Duran noted in her comments that the art gallery is seeing visitors from the region outside of Raton. Commissioners postponed these requests so that they can look at lodger’s tax income for the next year.
The agreement with Better City, LLC for economic development services was discussed with commissioners approving the extension for a third year. The funding for this agreement comes from the economic development fund not lodger’s tax.
Resolution 2026-24 was approved which applies to the NM Economic Development Site Readiness Fund for funding within the I-25 Frontage Road Industrial, Logistics, and Highway Commercial Site Readiness Project. This is a $550,000 request with a $50,000 city match. The city property chosen for consideration is frontage property along I-25 south of the casino property. A feasibility study and planning will be conducted to determine what it will take to get utilities to the location and what type of businesses can be located on the property. Commissioner Campbell noted that there are some set back requirements because the wastewater treatment plant sludge field is close by.
Discussion about a Planning Statement of Work for GIS, API and AI mapping supporting the Brownfields program in Raton and to aid in planning and zoning enforcement. This is the use of GIS and tools to make the city more proficient in mapping and geographic information services. Mayor Pro-Tem Honeyfield asked how this will fit in with what the county is already doing or are we duplicating services. Consensus Planning quoted the cost of the program at $59,900 with a concern about recurring costs and upgrades for computer software. Commissioners voted to postpone this request as the city works through the budget process.
The Kearny Film School Project phase 1B has been worked on and costs have been reduced by about $200,000. The cost to continue the work will be $2,459,962 which expended a large amount of the grant. Interim City Manager Neil Segotta noted this project is near completion and more discussion will need to take place at the next budget workshop. Mayor Pro-Tem Honeyfield had several concerns about window replacement expenses, generator installation and three phase power. At inception of the project, it was pre-covid and most of the work has been completed after covid and costs have doubled or tripled since then which has put the project over budget. After much discussion commissioners approved the funding with Mayor Pro-Tem Honeyfield voting no.
Raton awarded the contract for chip seal within the city which will piggyback on a City of Farmington procurement with NMDOT Grant. American Road Maintenance will do the work with most of it being in North Raton with some on Hereford and other streets in south Raton. Total cost of the work is $566,000 with GRT at $46,751 for a total cost of $612,751.
Commissioners approved the demolition of the building at 220 North 4th Street at their last meeting. Problems have arisen since that approval and as a result commissioners rescinded that approval. It was noted that McGill did not have the proper paperwork or licensure and thus will go back out for bid.
Commissioners approved the recommendation to contract with Carr, Riggs and Ingram LLC, to do audit services for the city for FY26. The cost of the audit will be $111,391 with GRT. This will be year two of the three contract.
Commissioners approved the dispatch agreements with the Town of Springer and the Village of Cimarron. These agreements are a continuation of the agreements already in place.
Commissioners approved an MOU with Colfax County to provide up to $40,000 for EMS services. The funds are to be used for the new ambulance.
City Manager Segotta attended the self-insurers forum and noted the price increases and that there were several claims. Projects include the Railroad Ave bridges and the north underpass and May 18 the chip seal project will begin. Romero Park upgrades are in progress and Roundhouse Park project is ongoing.
Commissioners then voted to enter executive session to discuss the open city manager position. Commissioners came back from the closed session and have pushed the decision to the May 26th meeting. Commissioners will meet again on May 26 for a regular meeting at 6:00 p.m. in the commission chambers.
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