Menu
New Mexico News Port
Journalism and Innovation from The University of New Mexico
  • Creative NM
  • Curious NM
  • Enjoy NM
  • Green NM
  • Justice NM
  • Healthy NM
  • NM Voices
  • Political NM
  • Raising NM
  • About Us
Close Menu
Farris Engineering Center renovation began July 8, 2016 blocking off sidewalks along Redondo Drive. Funds for this construction came from General Obligation Bonds that were approved in 2014. Photo by Katherine Jennings/NM News Port
November 8 2016

Voters approve bonds for UNM, higher ed projects

Political New Mexico

 

By Cynthia Baker, Skylar Griego, Katherine Jennings and Christian Marquez / NM News Port

New Mexicans on Tuesday appeared to approve a bond for higher education with more than 60 percent in favor of granting higher education funds for capital projects to New Mexico public colleges and universities.

Approval of Bond C means the University of New Mexico (UNM) can anticipate receiving $34.5 million once the state issues all the bonds near the beginning of next year.

UNM will use the funds for various projects, including a new $25 million Physics and Astronomy Interdisciplinary Science (PAIS) building. The Taos, Gallup, Los Alamos, and Valencia branch campuses will also receive money for facility renovations and improvements.

With 1,201 precincts partially reporting, many UNM staff said they are excited for future university projects covered by higher education bonds, particularly the PAIS building. Readers can see information on the PAIS project outline on the UNM website.

“We are excited here at UNM to continue to move forward with the Physics & Astronomy and Interdisciplinary Science project. The impact of having a state-of-the-art facility will significantly contribute to New Mexico’s scientific and academic success, and that of our students,” UNM President Robert Frank said in a statement.

Dianne Anderson, the UNM media director, said the new labs and classrooms in the PAIS building will benefit both graduate and undergraduate students.

“Because of its size, location and function, PAIS will not only change the face of the UNM campus, it will also make a big impact on the way students and faculty work together to solve problems,” Anderson said in a statement.

Farris Engineering Center renovation began July 8, 2016 blocking off sidewalks along Redondo Drive. Funds for this construction came from General Obligation Bonds that were approved in 2014. Photo by Katherine Jennings/NM News Port
Farris Engineering Center renovation began July 8, 2016 blocking off sidewalks along Redondo Drive. Funds for this construction came from General Obligation Bonds that were approved in 2014. Photo by Katherine Jennings/NM News Port

Mark Peceny, college of arts and sciences dean, said he is grateful for the support shown by voters.

“We will be able to provide extraordinary service to our students and to the state in the new Physics & Astronomy and Interdisciplinary Science building, which has been made possible in part by the support of people throughout New Mexico for the general obligation bond,” Peceny said in a statement. “We will do everything in our power to provide the maximum possible return on your investment.”

“Students, faculty and staff of the Department of Physics and Astronomy are proud that the citizens of New Mexico decided to make an investment into the future. We will work hard to provide excellent training and research opportunities for our students in the new building, which will ultimately help make our state more competitive,” Wolfgang Rudolph, chairman of the Department of Physics and Astronomy, said in a statement.

In addition to funds allocated for UNM, bond sale monies will ultimately grant up to $131 million to 31 distinct public higher education institutions in New Mexico.

Other projects that will receive funds from Bond C municipal bonds include renovations to Max Hall at Central New Mexico Community College (CNMCC) and Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (SIPI) Library. For more information about these and other projects, visit nmlegis.gov.

The New Mexico Department of Higher Education (NMHED) has already determined and recommended how the money should be distributed, which can be seen in this capital projects recommendations report.

With 1,201 precincts partially reporting, NMHED Cabinet Secretary Barbara Damron said NMHED officials are excited to see citizens support Bond C.

“There is no question our higher ed institutions needed this bond. There’re a lot of capital project needs around the state … and it [Bond C] provides an opportunity for our New Mexico students,” Damron said. “It allows them to study, learn, and grow in safe buildings. It creates local jobs and provides communities around the state with an economic boost — and, of course, all of this is done without raising taxes.”

This is the second election year in a row Bond C has received approval, according to the UNM Newsroom.

Voters varied in their reasons for supporting or opposing Bond C.

John Smith, an early voter at the Petroglyph Plaza polling station on Albuquerque’s West Side, said he supports the measure because he wants to help improve New Mexico education.

“Education is extremely important for the future of our country. I don’t believe in higher taxes — which, bonds generally tend to lead to higher taxes — but I do believe we need to have more and better education here in New Mexico,” Smith said.

Amanda Wilson, who said she voted against Bond C, said she didn’t know enough about it to give her support.

“I don’t think they gave enough information going into it to really understand it,” Wilson said.

Denise Mitchell, a UNM employee, said Bond C is needed now in a time of numerous budget cuts at higher ed institutions.

“I feel that it’s important that we … really look at higher education as something that is valued. So being able to provide funds … to make higher education better is really important,” Mitchell said. “Any resources … that can help students in higher education I think is worth us voting for.”

She said because some taxes go toward higher education anyway, everyone should invest in a bond that won’t increase it.

According to Investopedia.com, GO bonds are sold after receiving voter approval and repaid over a long period of time via revenue from taxes or from the capital projects funded by the bonds.

The approval of Bond C will not lead to a tax increase.
With approval secured, the next steps in the process of granting funds to colleges and universities include the state selling the bonds and institutions giving their final presentations to the capital projects committee.

For more information about the process of GO bonds and how institutions get their money, see
this previous New Mexico News Port article.

Follow @cyntbake @tdlbooks @jacktheskipperr on Twitter.

New Mexico’s Congressional Districts Keep the Incumbents Linda Stover victorious in county clerk race

Related Posts

AA031303

from our partners, Political New Mexico

Legislative Candidates Spent More than $10m

  By Sandra Fish / NM In Depth Legislative candidates raised $12 million and spent more than $10.3 million during the 2016 election cycle. Republicans lost their state House majority despite outraising and outspending Democrats overall. Democratic Senate candidates outspent their GOP opponents while increasing their majority. even though Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez lost […]

screen-shot-2016-09-29-at-1-53-41-pm

Political New Mexico

New Mexico’s New Legislature Faces Immediate Budget Battle

  By Joseph Buck and Jake Schwanitz / NM News Port The dust from Election Day has settled and New Mexicans now know who will be in positions of power in the New Mexico state legislature. Democrats returned to their familiar place as the majority party in the New Mexico House of Representatives. Republicans watched […]

Political New Mexico

Maggie Toulouse Oliver sworn in as Secretary of State

  By Addison Flores-Thorpe and Monique Rinaldi / NM News Port Former Bernalillo County Clerk Maggie Toulouse Oliver has been sworn in as New Mexico Secretary of State, replacing interim-Secretary Brad Winter. Toulouse Oliver took the oath in Santa Fe on Dec. 9, amidst a crowded room at the New Mexico Supreme Court. On Dec. […]

News Port Named Best Independent Online Student News Site!

photo of award certificate

Congratulations to News Port! The judges for the Society of Professional Journalists’ Mark of Excellence Awards named this site its “Best Independent Online Student Publication” for 2019. Read about our exceptional regional and national honors! 

SUPPORT THE PORT!

Can you believe we just turned 5 years old?! If you’d like to help us get to age 10, please support The Port! You’ll help grow student reporters committed to high quality, ethical journalism for New Mexico.  Donate to the Fund for Journalism Innovation at the UNM Foundation!

Search the News Port Archives

@NMNewsPort on Twitter

Tweets by @@NMNewsPort

How are you experiencing COVID-19? We want to hear from you.

Help us report on the coronavirus outbreak by sharing a tip or personal story. We’ll never identify you without your permission.

FEATURED PARTNER

Check out our news partner New Mexico In Depth and their coverage of criminal justice, politics and other statewide issues.

FEATURED PARTNER

Searchlight New Mexico is a non-partisan, nonprofit news organization dedicated to investigative reporting and innovative data journalism.

FEATURED PARTNER

Visit the venerable Daily Lobo, our reporting collaborator on issues that affect the University of New Mexico.

Back To Top
New Mexico News Port
Follow, Share and Engage with NM News Port!
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest
  • Creative NM
  • Curious NM
  • Enjoy NM
  • Green NM
  • Justice NM
  • Healthy NM
  • NM Voices
  • Political NM
  • Raising NM
  • About Us
Comodo SSL
New Mexico News Port is an independent journalism lab based at the UNM Communication and Journalism Department. Our mission is to support the state's local news ecosystem through innovation, collaboration and publication -- with students. Contact: nmnewsport@gmail.com