New Mexicans passed four statewide general obligation bond questions by wide margins.
The bonds would go toward capital improvements in senior citizen facilities, public libraries, state colleges and public safety services. The state Board of Finance estimates the bonds would cost individual homeowners little more than nine dollars for every $100,000 of taxable assets.
Bond A
With 25 percent of precincts reported, Bond A passed with 69 percent in favor.
This will result in senior citizen facility upgrades across the state. Up to $15,440,000 will be used to provide upgrades to various senior centers in addition to acquiring meal equipment and delivery vehicles. The bond will also be used to address code compliances in senior facilities in the following counties: Bernalillo, Catron, Colfax, McKinley, Otero, Rio Arriba, Sandoval, Santa Fe, Taos and Union.
Bond B
Several hours after the polls closed, Bond B was passing with 65 percent of the public in favor.
Public schools, tribal schools and public libraries will receive more than $10 million in obligation bonds for the acquisition of furnishings, electronic and print resources and internet infrastructure. The largest portion of Bond B, $3.25 million, will be allocated to academic libraries.
Bond C
Bond C was winning 64 to 36 percent.
At more than $142 million, Bond C will award the largest portion of the general obligation bonds to higher education. The largest portion of this will go to UNM who would allocate much of that money towards the construction of a new Astronomy and Physics building which is slated to begin construction in 2017 and be completed in 2019.
Bond D
With 25 percent of precincts reported, Bond D was passing with 66 percent in favor.
Bond D will allocate around $18 million towards improvements to public safety institutions statewide. The Department of Public Safety in Santa Fe is expected to use $7 million to design and construct a new state crime laboratory in and records facility. The existing lab will receive additional development. The Departments of Information Technology and Military Affairs will be presented with $5 million to streamline the state’s public safety communications and $4 million to build a National Guard Readiness Center in Las Cruces. More energy efficient systems and staging regions statewide will receive the remaining $2 million.
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