Discretionary funds debate heats up District 6 race

By Eric Maddy
The SCORE

If it was a Raymond Chandler novel, it would be called “The Case of the Missing Funds.” But since it’s in Rio Rancho, just call it a political issue for the District 6 candidates.

Some $43,000 designated toward a multi-generational center in the city’s largest and fastest growing district has been absorbed back into the general fund, a wasted opportunity due to the transition between two candidates after the 2004 municipal election.

Lonnie Clayton, the councilor at the time, requested and received $50,000 to study the feasibility of such a building in District 6. The city spent about $7,000 to research the issue and develop a report.

When Clayton was defeated in his bid for election by Marilyn Salzman, the money was available for her to use until the end of the year. After that …

“It’s gone back to the general fund,” Rio Rancho finance director Dick Kristoff said Tuesday. “If it’s not spent by the end of the year, it’s gone.”

Kristoff said the money was designated from the general fund at Clayton’s request and was not part of so-called “discretionary funds” given to councilors to spend in their district. That practice began only two years ago, Kristoff said, with councilors receiving about $100,000 each the first year and $50,000 last year, Kristoff said.

The issue came up at a recent candidate forum when an audience question was asked about Salzman spending money on signs in the Rivers Edge area.

More to come on this story. 

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