Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Opinion: College presidents: Bond 3 deserves support

As the president of Clovis Community College and the Chancellor of the Eastern New Mexico University System, we want to outline the benefits of General Obligation Bond 3 in the Nov. 5 General Election and why it deserves the support of the citizens of Curry and Roosevelt counties.

Our institutions provide access and opportunity for higher education to our region, and the students of both campuses deserve high-quality learning environments. Passage of Bond 3 will allow higher education institutions in Curry and Roosevelt counties to receive $4 million to offer competitive, state-of-the art facilities and campus enhancements.

As a reminder, there will be no tax rate increase as a result of this bond.

Clovis Community College will receive $2 million to renovate and improve the cosmetology and classroom south building.

The Eastern New Mexico University System will receive $10.3 million from this bond that includes $2 million for construction of an animal production and management facility at ENMU Portales, $5.3 million to add 10,000 square feet to the aviation hangar at ENMU Roswell, and $3 million for a planned campus expansion at ENMU Ruidoso. Through One Eastern, every ENMU student has access to every program offered within the ENMU System.

Your support will lead to continued education and training for our citizens and economic growth for our region.

Passage of the GO Bond is an important source of funding for higher education, and it has a ripple effect for eastern New Mexico. These construction projects mean construction workers eat, shop and stay in our communities; they buy local. This adds gross receipts’ and lodgers’ tax dollars to our community budgets and keeps our tax rates low while improving higher education assets. Everyone in Curry and Roosevelt Counties benefits both short term and long term from Bond 3.

Campus improvements and expansions also help CCC and ENMU remain competitive with other New Mexico and Texas institutions. Well-maintained, state-of-the-art facilities help us recruit students to live in the area while providing better educational opportunities for you, your neighbors, our communities, and our region. They encourage graduating high school seniors to stay in eastern New Mexico to attend college, pursue careers and contribute to the vitality of the area. They also encourage others to return to college to seek a certificate, job training, or complete a degree.

With early in-person and absentee voting beginning Oct. 8, please send a message that Curry and Roosevelt counties are firmly committed to higher education opportunities for our region by voting on Bond 3. Thank you for helping us support the future of our students, our communities, and New Mexico.

Jonathan Fuentes is the president of Clovis Community College. Contact him:

[email protected]

James Johnston is the chancellor of the three-campus Eastern New Mexico University System. Contact him:

[email protected]