NMSU seeks millions for renovations on Nov. 7

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A bond question on the Nov. 7 general election ballot would help New Mexico State University continue its quest to update campus facilities.

Bond B would allocate nearly $118 million for capital improvements at state colleges, universities and other schools, according to a news release from NMSU, which would get $22.9 million.

“Some of our buildings are 50 years old and must be updated in order to best serve the students,” said Ben Woods, senior vice president for planning, physical resources and university relations at NMSU.

The university has worked in the past few years to build new dormitories, update historic buildings and improve athletics facilities.

The university says passage of the bond would allocate $11 million for renovation and expansion of Gardiner Hall on the Horseshoe, home of the physics department. The building was constructed in 1957 and is sorely in need of upgrades, according to the university.

Expansion of the building would also create new homes for the astronomy and geology departments and create a center in that area of campus for science departments, which will encourage more cross-collaboration among researchers and make it easier for students to find classes, according to NMSU.

Bond B would also allocate $2 million to the College of Health and Social Services for the expansion of its building, to include the new Southwest Institute for Health Disparities Research, which is planned to focus on major health issues including diabetes, drug abuse, AIDS, cancer, water and air quality, prenatal care, immunizations and teen pregnancy.

The bond would also grant $3 million for the proposed Native American Cultural Center on campus, $3.5 million for the Doña Ana Community College’s East Mesa Center, $1.5 million for NMSU Alamogordo, $1.5 million for NMSU Carlsbad, and $400,000 for NMSU Grants.

Bond C, also on the Nov. 7 ballot, proposes more than $9 million for libraries across the state, including $700,000 for NMSU.

Now the price tag: The cost is 32 cents per $1,000 of the taxable value of property, which the university says is a decrease from the 34 cents sought during the 2002 bond cycle.

In layman’s terms, a property owner with a home worth $100,000 will pay $10.17 per year for this, if it’s approved by voters, according to NMSU.

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