By David Abbey and Ronnie Birdsong
Nelson Mandela said it best, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
This fall, voters can invest nearly $230 million in our state’s public colleges, universities, and specialty schools serving blind, deaf, visually impaired or hard of hearing students without raising their property tax rates.
Supporting General Obligation Bond 3 would provide funding to pay for renovations, safety improvements, technology upgrades and replacement of decades-old facilities at educational institutions in 29 communities across 23 counties throughout New Mexico. It would also create an estimated 2,300 new jobs.
A certificate, two-year or four-year degree makes financial sense for our students. Research shows individuals with an associate’s degree earn about $141 more a week than those who have a high school diploma. At the same time, bachelor’s degree holders earn about 86% more, on average, than individuals with a high school education.
To attract the best and brightest students, our state’s institutions of higher education must offer leading-edge job training and degree programs, update their technology, renovate their facilities to meet current workforce demands, and have modern learning facilities.
GO Bond 3 funding would make important, badly needed projects possible. It would fund renovations to the College of Pharmacy at the University of New Mexico. The current college is more than 50 years old. At the same time, UNM’s College of Pharmacy is ranked fifth in National Institutes of Health research funding among 142 other pharmacy colleges in the U.S.
At Central New Mexico Community College, GO Bond 3 would establish a campus-wide emergency response communications system and upgrade fire protection, electrical systems, emergency lighting and more. It would also establish the CNM Center for Technical Innovation & Entrepreneurial Development, a cutting-edge, 25,000-square-foot facility fostering innovation, education and collaboration.
In Las Cruces, New Mexico State University would replace end-of-life electrical infrastructure to advance reliability, safety and renewable energy technology. Replacement of a deficient steam distribution system would reduce operations and maintenance costs throughout the campus and improve indoor air quality.
In Roswell, Eastern New Mexico University would renovate and enlarge the Aviation Maintenance Technology building by 10,000 square feet to accommodate larger classes and teaching labs, providing advanced training for the growing field of aviation technology.
In Farmington, San Juan College would replace outdated heating and cooling controllers and boilers with high-efficiency units, particularly critical with the addition of the new Nizhóní Sunrise Suites student housing.
Throughout New Mexico, GO Bond 3 would fund renovations and upgrades at 12 agricultural science centers that are working on everything from high-value crops for climate-smart agriculture to sustainable beef production, rangeland management and ecosystem health.
The list goes on and on. These projects are not frivolous. They are needed to meet the changing workforce demands of our state and nation and graduate students who have the skills and education they need to succeed.
At the same time, these projects boost local economies. Research shows the bond creates about one job for every $100,000 in funding in architecture, construction and related fields. The people working on these projects eat, stay in and purchase goods and services in the communities where they are located, not only contributing to local businesses but also to gross receipts tax bases.
In most instances, general obligation bonds are the only source of funding available for these projects. Again, support of Bond 3 will not raise property tax rates for voters. It is an investment in higher education, our state’s economy and our future.
For more information, visit www.investinbond3.com and WNMU.edu/bond.
David Abbey is chair and Ronnie Birdsong is co-chair of the GO Bonds for Education Committee.
This op-ed is part of a series about General Obligation Bond 3.