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New Mexico Bond Question D (2010)
The New Mexico Bond Question D was on the November 2, 2010 general election ballot in the state of New Mexico as a legislatively referred state statute, where it was defeated. 
The measure was one of four bond issue questions that was on the ballot. A $155 million bond would have been used to support higher education in the state. The bond money would be shared among 31 colleges and universities.[1][2]
The bond would have increased property taxes to an estimated $99.79 over the next 10 years per $100,000 of assessed value. The estimated increases were between $8.83 and $11.54 per $100,000 of assessed value.[2]
Aftermath
Proponents of the measure stated that the failure of the measure could have been the direct result of a lack of advertising. This theory was echoed by New Mexico Secretary of State Mary Herrera in a statement released after the election. According to UNM Professor Patrick Mariano, the bond issue's failure would negatively impact the chemistry department. Mariano stated, "It’s hard to predict what current faculty will do in face of not having renovated space. And I question our ability to hire new faculty if we cannot show them, or at least tell them, that a remodeled, safe laboratory can be provided for them.”[3]
Students of the university chimed in on how they voted. Daniel Rolison stated, "This was just going to be another loan that we would have to pay back later, and we’re already in debt now."
Election results
- See also: 2010 ballot measure election results
Official election results follow:
| Bond Question D (Higher Education and Special School Bonds) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| No | 260,581 | 50.1% | ||
| Yes | 259,418 | 49.9% | ||
Results via New Mexico Secretary of State.
Text of measure
Ballot language
The ballot language that New Mexico voters saw on the ballot read as follows:[4]
The 2010 Capital Projects General Obligation Bond Act authorizes the issuance and sale of higher educational and special schools capital improvement and acquisition bonds. Shall the state be authorized to issue general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed one hundred fifty-five million five hundred sixty-seven thous and eight hundred twenty-four dollars ($155,567,824) to make capital expenditures for certain higher educational and special schools capital improvements and acquisitions and provide for a general property tax imposition and levy for the payment of principal of, interest on and expenses incurred in connection with the issuance of the bonds and the collection of the tax as permitted by law?
For________________ Against___________________
Support
Supporters
- Dr. Cheri Jimeno, president of New Mexico State University-Alamogordo, supported Bond Question D due to the positive impacts that the measure would bring to higher education programs, according to him. Jimeno stated, "GO bond D supports a variety of projects for higher education institutions throughout the state. For example, if the bond passes, Do a Ana Community College will receive $5.65 million for Phase II of the Gadsden Center, while the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center will receive $10 million for the Carrie Tingley Children's Hospital Outpatient Services Building."[5]
Arguments
- New Mexico resident Jimmie Shearer, in a letter to the editor of the Portales News Tribune, argued that higher education was important to the area in which he lived in. According to Shearer, "In the November general election, Bond D provides $1 million for CCC and $7 million for ENMU. The bond construction projects in Curry and Roosevelt counties will create jobs, supplies will be bought, motel rooms will be booked, restaurants will get more business and workers will shop at many other businesses."[6]
Opposition
There was no known opposing campaign for Bond Question D.
Path to the ballot
The measure was sent to the ballot when the New Mexico House of Representatives voted in favor of the proposal's ballot access on March 3, 2010.[1]
See also
Additional reading
- Example of a New Mexico sample ballot that shows the language of New Mexico's 2010 ballot measures (dead link)
- Bond D to benefit WNMU
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 New Mexico Legislature, "SB 1," accessed October 6, 2010
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Daily Times, "Bond could help energy program," October 28, 2010
- ↑ New Mexico Daily Lobo, "Voters weigh in on Bond D failure," December 8, 2010
- ↑ New Mexico Legislature, "SB0001," accessed October 13, 2010
- ↑ Alamagordo News, "Various bond issues will benefit N.M. education," October 10, 2010
- ↑ PNTOnline.com, "Bond D will also impact economic growth," October 28, 2010 (dead link)
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