bonds

The upcoming ballot in Bernalillo county is packed so full of information, the County Clerk has said she’ll be providing special lighting and a magnifying glass in voting booths so voters can actually read the 7 point print. KUNM’s Daniel Montano sat down with Starlyn Brown, with the League of Women Voters of Central New Mexico, who provide non-partisan voting information, to talk about what voters can expect when they walk up to a booth on election day.

Two of the seven City of Albuquerque bonds on the ballot in the Nov. 7 election go towards issues top-of-mind for many residents, elected officials and city council candidates alike: public safety and housing. Albuquerque Fire Rescue — not police — would see the biggest chunk of the $25 million public safety bond, and affordable housing would get the single largest windfall from another $35 million pot of money up for voter approval.

Albuquerque voters have a number of bonds on their ballot this year to fund city infrastructure. Over $88 million dollars across three general obligation bonds would go toward improving city roads, buildings, animal shelters, storm sewer systems, and energy conservation if passed.

Albuquerque residents have several bonds on their ballots this election related to education. Central New Mexico Community College, Albuquerque Public Schools, and city libraries and museums all stand to receive millions in public funding for capital projects. The largest of the three, which will appear on Bernalillo and Sandoval County ballots, is for CNM, which stands to receive $80 million for campus improvements.

Voters passed all three amendments to the state’s constitution to provide more money for early childhood education, allow the state to invest in essential services and spares judges from an election race in the first year of their appointment. Three bond issues passed for public libraries, educational institutions and senior centers also passed with the third for education not yet called by AP.

New Mexicans are voting on whether to boost the resources available at public and school-based libraries with what would be the largest ever statewide library bond at $19 million.

As senior centers across New Mexico begin to reopen their doors after pandemic shutdowns and fire evacuations, $24.5 million for the facilities is up for a vote in the November election. General Obligation Bond 1 — if approved — would go toward designing, renovating, or equipping centers across 21 counties and six pueblos.

New Mexico voters will decide in November whether to approve more than $259 million in general obligation bonds. Most would go toward funding improvements at higher education institutions without increasing taxes.

It’s local election time with big decisions for voters like mayoral races, city council contests, and bonds, including that controversial stadium bond in Albuquerque. This week on Let’s Talk New Mexico we’ll look at how it all went down with journalists covering local issues around the state.

Voter turnout was high around the state on Tuesday, Nov. 5, as people cast ballots for their local leaders. In Albuquerque, even though there were…