How General Obligation (GO) Bond Funds Are Used in Ruidoso
A transparent look at how voter-approved GO Bonds support Ruidoso’s water system improvements.
Water Infrastructure Improvements Supported by Voter-Approved Bonds
For more than a decade, Village of Ruidoso voters have approved General Obligation (GO) Bonds to help maintain and improve the community’s water infrastructure through the Village’s Capital Improvement Program.
These bonds allow the Village to invest in critical water system improvements while maintaining the existing property tax mill levy, meaning the program is structured so that continuing it does not increase property taxes for residents.
Ruidoso’s water system is one of the most complex in New Mexico. Because of the Village’s mountainous terrain, the system operates with 42 pressure zones that move water across elevations and neighborhoods. Much of the infrastructure in this system is more than 50 years old, including galvanized pipelines that deteriorate more quickly in local soil conditions.
GO Bond funding allows the Village to replace aging infrastructure, improve water reliability, strengthen fire protection, and reduce water loss across the system.
Projects Funded by Previous GO Bonds
The following projects were funded through previous voter-approved GO Bonds and implemented across multiple areas of the Village to improve water production, storage, and distribution.
| Project | Status | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Dipaolo Drive Improvements | Complete | $351,485 |
| Alto Treatment Plant Improvements | Complete | $2,648,286 |
| Country Club Tank Replacement | Complete | $1,360,307 |
| Hemlock Circle II Infrastructure Improvements | Complete | $337,076 |
| Paradise Canyon Lateral Replacement | Complete | $788,355 |
| Pinecliff Waterline Replacement | Complete | $2,556,896 |
| Town & Country Subdivision Improvements | Complete | $963,832 |
| Labor Install Endpoints | Complete | $30,027 |
| Innsbrook Subdivision Service Line Replacements | Complete | $143,331 |
| Country Club Water System Improvements | In Progress | $359,922 |
These projects represent targeted improvements to Ruidoso’s water system, including replacing aging pipelines, increasing water storage capacity, and strengthening water distribution reliability across the Village.
Why These Improvements Are Needed
Maintaining a reliable water system in a mountain community requires continuous investment. Many pipelines installed decades ago are reaching the end of their service life and must be replaced to prevent leaks, system failures, and water loss.
Investments through the GO Bond program help the Village:
• Replace aging galvanized waterlines
• Improve water pressure and system reliability
• Reduce water loss from leaks
• Strengthen fire protection capabilities
• Maintain long-term resilience of the water system
Following the 2024 South Fork and Salt Fires and the subsequent flooding, portions of the Village’s water infrastructure also experienced damage. The GO Bond program helps position the Village to match federal and state funding opportunities that support water system repair and future resilience.
Planned Water Infrastructure Improvements
As part of the Village’s ongoing Capital Improvement Program supported by GO Bond funding, several additional projects are planned to improve water system performance and reliability.
Planned improvements include:
• Replacement of pressure reducing valves (PRVs)
• Leak detection services to reduce water loss
• Alto Dam improvements
• River Well rehabilitation
• Hollywood Well rehabilitation
• Wingfield II waterline replacement
Additional distribution improvements include replacing aging 2-inch galvanized waterlines and improving infrastructure in areas such as:
• Ash Drive
• Brady Canyon Drive
• Maple Drive
• Ponderosa Drive
• Water distribution improvements in the Ponderosa Heights subdivision
About the GO Bond Program
The Village of Ruidoso’s Capital Improvement Program was established to support long-term investment in critical water infrastructure. With voter approval, the Village may issue up to $3 million in General Obligation Bonds to fund water system improvements.
The program was designed to maintain the existing mill levy rate, allowing the Village to continue addressing infrastructure needs without increasing property taxes for residents.
Because the bond authorization is approved by voters, residents play a direct role in determining whether the Village can continue investing in these essential improvements.