General election Ballot includes state bond issues, proposed constitutional amendments

All New Mexico voters will cast ballots on three statewide bond issues and three proposed constitutional amendments during the Nov. 8 general election.

Statewide G.O. bond issues would allocate:

Facilities in Las Cruces and Doña Ana County will receive a substantial amount of funding for a number of projects at New Mexico State University and other facilities in Las Cruces of projects if voters statewide approve three general obligation bond questions.

Collectively, the three proposed bonds would allocate about $258.8 million in capital expenditures for senior citizen facilities ($24.2 million); higher education, special school and tribal school capital improvements and acquisitions ($215.6 million); and library resource acquisitions ($19 million) throughout New Mexico.

■ Senior centers in Las Cruces would receive more than $776,200 for these projects:

• Frank O’Brien Papen Community Center: $35,000 for renovations; and
• Robert P. Munson Senior Center: $776,199 for two projects: $669,199 for renovations and $110,000 for vehicles.

■ New Mexico State University would receive $50 million for these projects (all in Las Cruces except as noted):

• $22.5 million to build and furnish a College of Engineering facility, including demolition of the nearly 50-year-old Thomas and Brown Hall (visit https://engr.nmsu.edu/building-the-future/building-the-future-new-.html);
• $13.5 million to build and equip the Health and Social Sciences Building and O'Donnell Hall;
• $2 million to build and equip the School of Nursing Skills and Simulation Center in the Health and Social Services building;
• $1.35 million for improvements, including roof replacement, at Doña Ana Branch Community

College campuses;

• $10.5 million to renovate the New Mexico Department of Agriculture building on the NMSU campus;
• $1.25 million renovate Martinez Hall on the NMSU branch campus in Grants.

To see all proposed statewide GO bond projects, visit www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/BillFinder/Number and click on “2022 Regular” in the Session drop box, click on “House” in the Chamber drop box, click on “Bill” in the Type drop box and click on “153” in the Number drop box, then click Search.

The proposed constitutional amendments would:

• Provide for additional annual distributions of the state land grant permanent fund for enhanced instruction of students at risk of failure, extending the school, teacher compensation and early childhood education, according to the House joint resolution creating the amendment;
• Authorize the legislature to appropriate state funds for infrastructure that provides services primarily for residential use such as internet, electric, natural gas, water and wastewater through a majority vote in both houses of the legislature. This proposed constitutional amendment was introduced by six state representatives, including Candie Sweetser, a Democrat from Deming, who represents House District 32, which will include a portion of Doña Ana County as a result of redistricting; and
• Provide that an appointed judge be up for election at the first general election one year after being appointed. With some appointments under current state law, an individual appointed to a judgeship might face election to that judgeship within a few months of his or her appointment. This proposed constitutional amendment was introduced by state Sen. Joseph Cervantes, D-Doña Ana, a Las Cruces attorney who is chair of the state Senate Judiciary Committee.

The proposed constitutional amendments were passed by the New Mexico Legislature in 2021 (early childhood education) and 2022 (public assistance for households and judicial appointments).

To learn more about the proposed constitutional amendment regarding early childhood education, visit www.sos.state.nm.us/legislation-and-lobbying/signed-chaptered-bills/2021-legislation. Under 2021 Legislation, click on “2021 Constitutional Amendments.” 

To learn more about the proposed constitutional amendments regarding public assistance for households and judicial appointments, Visit www.sos.state.nm.us/legislation-and-lobbying/signed-chaptered-bills/2022-legislation. Under 2022 Legislation, click on “2022 Constitutional Amendments.”