Bonds, amendments pass soundly

In a world with few sure things, and even fewer during a pandemic, general obligation bond passage in New Mexico is one of them, as it’s rare to see any such question not meet at least 60% support.

Still, you never know until the votes are counted, and local leaders are happy state voters approved bond issues that will translate into nearly $14 million for area entities.

“It’s been a tough year,” Eastern New Mexico University Chancellor Patrice Caldwell said following news of a Bond C approval that netted more than $10 million for the university’s three-campus system and $8 million alone for its Portales campus. “The pandemic has changed a lot of lives, but when it comes to higher education, the state always has our back and Roosevelt County especially does.”

By nearly two-thirds majorities on each, state voters approved Bonds A, B and C that total $199.2 million in statewide spending. Tax rates do not change with the bonds, which are reflected as about $10.99 per $100,000 in property value.

The biggest bond was C, which carried $156 million to higher education. Local measures included $7 million for Roosevelt Science Hall renovations at the ENMU-Portales campus, another $1 million to general Portales campus infrastructure and $1.075 million at Clovis Community College — $750,000 for roof and parking lot improvements and $325,000 for security improvements.

Caldwell said the university hopes to move pretty quickly on Roosevelt Science Hall renovations, and has already made preparations that include getting architects in place and designs approved.

“We were just thrilled at the support of Roosevelt County on the GO bond,” Caldwell said. “Our faculty and our students are so excited at how this renovations will enhance our science programs, support research and provide great educational designations for the schoolchildren in our area.”

The ENMU system is receiving a total of $10.3 million, with the Roswell campus getting $1.8 million for surveillance and lighting upgrades and the Ruidoso campus receiving $1.5 million for the second and third phases of its Nexus infrastructure project.

The city of Clovis, meanwhile, accounts for about 14% of the state’s total $33.3 million in Bond A for senior facilities. The $4.7 million will go to the first phase of Clovis’ Hillcrest Senior Center, a 16,000 square foot facility just south of the Clovis Wellness Center.

The center’s first phase — which includes a new Curry Resident Senior Meals Association kitchen and dining room, lobby, living room, multipurpose room, administrative offices, a conference room and a crafts/sewing room — is $5.7 million. The remaining money is covered through a $750,000 Community Development Block Grant award for the kitchen and $250,000 in city dollars.

City Manager Justin Howalt said the city was hopeful to begin construction in April with an 18-month construction schedule. The city originally sought the funding through property taxes, but the ballot measure was soundly defeated in 2018.

“It was disappointing,” Howalt said, “but it was still a project that was worthwhile and benefited our community, so we sought out other measures to get it constructed.”

Bond B includes $9.5 million to go to libraries, including $3 million each to the Cultural Affairs and Higher Education and Public Education departments, for various purchases including library materials and furniture and broadband Internet upgrades. Some of those materials could go to the Clovis and Portales public libraries and ENMU’s Golden Student Success Center, but no awards to specific libraries have been publicized.

The state also passed a pair of constitutional amendments that change the Public Regulation Commission and overhaul the election processes.

Constitutional Amendment 1 will change the elected five-member PRC to a three-member board appointed by the governor for six-year terms with the advice and consent of the Senate and no more than two members from the same political party.

Constitutional Amendment 2 will “adjust the term of a state, county or district officer to align or stagger the election of officers for a particular state, county or district office throughout the state. No statewide elective office would be subject to adjustment. The proposed amendment also clarifies that officers elected to fill a vacancy in office shall take office on the first day of January following their election.”

Jeff Byrd, District 2 commissioner for the PRC, said he was obviously disappointed with the vote.

“I’m surprised people gave up their right to vote,” Byrd, “but that’s the way it is.”

The PRC, Byrd said, is expected to continue until its members’ terms expire in two years. However, he noted the second amendment approved by voters creates the possibility those terms could be reduced. Byrd said he’s already been asked by a few people if he’d consider applying for the three-member board, and that he hasn’t made up his mind.

“I don’t see the (current) governor appointing me,” Byrd said. “If she’s going to appoint somebody who was already on the board, then what was wrong with the way the electors did it?”

Amendment 2 will give the Secretary of State’s Office a second chance at creating a system where all odd-numbered districts for elected boards appeared on presidential election ballots and all even-numbered districts appeared on the gubernatorial election ballot. The move requires changing some elected officials’ district numbers, but not their representation areas, and some elected officials could see their terms granted an additional two years via lottery.

The state did exactly that last June in accordance with House Bill 407, but the New Mexico Supreme Court invalidated the process. A group of eight district attorneys, including Ninth Judicial District Attorney Andrea Reeb, sued to prevent implementation. The DAs feared term extensions granted during the lottery process could later be struck down and any convictions won during those additional years would be at risk.