New Mexico Bond Question A, Senior Citizens Facilities Bond Issue (2020)
| New Mexico Bond Question A | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Election date November 3, 2020 | |
| Topic Bond issues | |
Status Approved | |
| Type Bond issue | Origin State Legislature |
New Mexico Bond Question A, the Senior Citizens Facilities Bond Issue was on the ballot in New Mexico as a legislatively referred bond question on November 3, 2020.[1][2] It was approved.
A "yes" vote supported authorizing the sale and issuance of $33.3 million in bonds for senior citizen facilities improvements. |
A "no" vote opposed authorizing the sale and issuance of $33.3 million in bonds for senior citizen facilities improvements. |
Bond Question A was passed by the New Mexico Legislature as a bond package. The package included $9.7 million in bonds for public libraries and $156.3 million in bonds for public higher education institutions. The total amount of the bonds was $199 million.
Election results
|
New Mexico Bond Question A |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
|
|
550,541 | 68.10% | ||
| No | 257,888 | 31.90% | ||
Overview
What was the bond for?
- See also: Text of measure
Bond Question A issued $33.29 million in general obligation bonds to make capital improvements for certain senior citizen facilities across the state. A general obligation bond is a public debt and is paid for through state funds, specifically funds from a statewide property tax in New Mexico. The bond measure was allocated as follows:[2]
Click show to expand the bond revenue table.
| New Mexico Senior Citizens Facilities Bond (2020) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Recipient | Amount | ||
| Albuquerque senior kitchen site in Bernalillo county | $52,320 | ||
| Barelas senior center in Albuquerque | $114,400 | ||
| Highland senior center in Albuquerque | $440,982 | ||
| Isleta Pueblo elder center in the Pueblo of Isleta in Bernalillo county | $445,000 | ||
| Palo Duro senior center in Albuquerque | $81,782 | ||
| Raymond G. Sanchez community center in Bernalillo county | $110,000 | ||
| Rio Bravo meal site in Bernalillo county | $145,025 | ||
| Lake Arthur Joy center in Chaves county | $93,833 | ||
| Midway Joy center in Chaves county | $136,444 | ||
| Roswell Joy center in Chaves county | $471,118 | ||
| Acoma Pueblo senior center in Cibola county | $177,701 | ||
| Cimarron senior center in Colfax county | $55,000 | ||
| Eagle Nest senior center in Eagle Nest in Colfax county | $274,800 | ||
| Raton senior center in Colfax county | $275,000 | ||
| Springer senior center in Colfax county | $55,000 | ||
| Hillcrest senior center in Clovis | $4,703,946 | ||
| Melrose senior center in Melrose | $30,000 | ||
| Anthony community center in Dona Ana county | $249,000 | ||
| Dona Ana community center in Dona Ana county | $100,000 | ||
| East Mesa/Sage cafe senior center in Las Cruces | $930,000 | ||
| Munson senior center in Las Cruces | $974,000 | ||
| Placitas community center in Dona Ana county | $45,000 | ||
| Radium Springs community center in Dona Ana county | $116,000 | ||
| San Jose senior center in Carlsbad | $760,000 | ||
| Gila senior center in Grant county | $117,826 | ||
| Mimbres senior center in Grant county | $50,000 | ||
| Santa Clara senior center in Santa Clara | $128,404 | ||
| Silver City senior center in Silver City | $33,435 | ||
| La Loma senior center in Guadalupe county | $50,365 | ||
| Ena Mitchell senior center in Lordsburg | $29,777 | ||
| Carrizozo senior center in Lincoln county | $45,822 | ||
| Hondo senior center in Lincoln county | $64,412 | ||
| Ruidoso community center in Ruidoso | $44,077 | ||
| Ruidoso Downs Zia senior center in Lincoln county | $22,172 | ||
| Deming senior center in Deming | $418,138 | ||
| Baahaali chapter of the Navajo Nation | $810,000 | ||
| Baca senior center in the Baca/Prewitt chapter of the Navajo Nation | $22,000 | ||
| Chichiltah senior center in the Chichiltah chapter of the Navajo Nation | $950,000 | ||
| Crownpoint senior center in the Crownpoint chapter of the Navajo Nation | $981,100 | ||
| Crystal senior center in the Crystal chapter of the Navajo Nation | $50,000 | ||
| Gallup senior center in Gallup | $95,000 | ||
| Manuelito senior center in the Manuelito chapter of the Navajo Nation | $110,000 | ||
| Mariano Lake senior center in the Mariano Lake chapter of the Navajo Nation | $1,614,293 | ||
| Mexican Springs senior center in the Mexican Springs chapter of the Navajo Nation | $213,000 | ||
| Nageezi chapter of the Navajo Nation | $338,710 | ||
| Pueblo Pintado chapter of the Navajo Nation | $2,800,000 | ||
| Ramah senior center in the Ramah chapter of the Navajo Nation | $380,000 | ||
| Red Rock senior center in the Red Rock chapter of the Navajo Nation | $1,420,000 | ||
| Smith Lake senior center in the Smith Lake chapter of the Navajo Nation | $800,000 | ||
| Thoreau senior center in the Thoreau chapter of the Navajo Nation | $1,000,000 | ||
| Tohatchi senior center in the Tohatchi chapter of the Navajo Nation | $350,000 | ||
| Alamo senior center in Alamogordo | $112,503 | ||
| Logan senior center in Logan | $88,109 | ||
| Pueblo of San Ildefonso in Rio Arriba county | $28,106 | ||
| Santa Clara Pueblo adult daycare center in the Pueblo of Santa Clara in Rio Arriba county | $370,050 | ||
| Aztec senior center in Aztec in San Juan county | $363,000 | ||
| Bonnie Dallas senior center in Farmington in San Juan county | $316,160 | ||
| Las Vegas senior center in Las Vegas | $1,500,700 | ||
| San Miguel senior center in San Miguel county | $225,000 | ||
| Bernalillo senior center in Sandoval county | $20,250 | ||
| Meadowlark senior center in Rio Rancho | $421,504 | ||
| San Felipe Pueblo senior center in the Pueblo of San Felipe in Sandoval county | $1,226,000 | ||
| Senior centers in Sandoval county | $101,650 | ||
| Mary Esther Gonzales senior center in Santa Fe | $3,670,717 | ||
| Magdalena senior center in Socorro county | $33,755 | ||
| Veguita senior center in Socorro county | $84,591 | ||
| Taos senior centers in Taos county | $220,456 | ||
| Belen senior center in Valencia county | $260,000 | ||
| Del Rio senior center in Valencia county | $200,000 | ||
What is the history of bond measures in New Mexico?
- See also: Background
Voters of New Mexico cast ballots on 25 bond issues, totaling $1.2 billion in value, between January 1, 2006, and January 1, 2020. All but one bond issue question—a $155.57 million bond for higher education—was approved. As of June 30, 2018, the state debt from general obligation bonds was $502.85 million and the state debt from general obligation bonds per state resident was $239.88. Both the general obligation bond debt and per resident bond debt in 2018 were higher than amounts (in current dollars) from the prior decade.
Text of the measure
Ballot question
The ballot question was as follows:[2]
| “ | The 2020 Capital Projects General Obligation Bond Act authorizes the issuance and sale of senior citizen facility improvement, construction and equipment acquisition bonds. Shall the state be authorized to issue general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed thirty-three million two hundred ninety-two thousand one hundred forty-one dollars ($33,292,141) to make capital expenditures for certain senior citizen facility improvement, construction and equipment acquisition projects 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?[3] | ” |
Full text
The full text of the measure can be found here.
Fiscal impact statement
The following fiscal impact statement was included in the 2020 General Election Voter Guide:
| “ | According to revenue estimators, general obligation bond (GOB) capacity is approximately
$199,200,000, or approximately 0.29 percent of net taxable value of property. Authorizing no more than the stated capacity maintains a flat mill levy. Issuance and sale of general obligation bonds requires approval by the electorate at the November 2020 general election. General obligation bonds are payable from ad valorem (property) taxes levied on all property in the state subject to property taxation. The bonds are backed by the full faith and credit of the state. If approved by the voters, the general obligation bonds are expected to be issued by the State Board of Finance in January or February 2021. If the general obligation bonds are ratified by the voters, and issued in January or February 2021, funds authorized in this bill will be available to the recipients in the spring of 2021. The state agencies and state institutions to which money has been appropriated in this bill shall be responsible for monitoring the projects funded in the bill to ensure compliance with the laws and Constitution of New Mexico and shall cause to be reverted any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the earlier of the third full fiscal year after issuance of the bonds or the termination or completion of the specific project. Reverted funds shall be deposited in the debt service fund established by the state treasurer for the purpose of paying the principal and interest on the state’s general obligation bonds. The total for all three questions, including bond issuance costs, is $199,200,000. Based on the assumption that all three bond issues will be passed by voters, the property tax year 2020 mill levy has been set at 1.36 mills, which is the same as the 2018 and 2019 rates. The State Board of Finance estimates that over a ten-year period, the three issues on the ballot would cost approximately $10.99 per $100,000 of asset value. Of the annual average $10.99, Bond Issue A accounts for $1.83, Bond Issue B accounts for $0.54, and Bond Issue C accounts for $8.62. A complete breakdown of the designated projects under each bond issue can be found on the New Mexico Legislature’s website: https://nmlegis.gov/Sessions/20%20Regular/final/SB0207.pdf Source: NM Department of Finance and Administration.[3] |
” |
Readability score
- See also: Ballot measure readability scores, 2020
| Using the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL and Flesch Reading Ease (FRE) formulas, Ballotpedia scored the readability of the ballot title and summary for this measure. Readability scores are designed to indicate the reading difficulty of text. The Flesch-Kincaid formulas account for the number of words, syllables, and sentences in a text; they do not account for the difficulty of the ideas in the text. The state legislature wrote the ballot language for this measure.
|
Support
Supporters
Officials
- New Mexico State Senator George Munoz (D)
- New Mexico State Senator Steven Neville (R)
- New Mexico State Senator John Arthur Smith (D)
Arguments
Opposition
If you are aware of any opponents or opposing arguments that should be included here, please send an email with a link to editor@ballotpedia.org.
Arguments
Campaign finance
There were no ballot measure committees registered in support of the measure or in opposition to the measure.[4]
| Cash Contributions | In-Kind Contributions | Total Contributions | Cash Expenditures | Total Expenditures | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Support | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Oppose | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Total | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Background
Bond issues on the ballot in New Mexico
- See also: Bond issues on the ballot
Voters of New Mexico cast ballots on 25 bond issues, totaling approximately $1.2 billion in value, from January 1, 2006, through January 1, 2020. All but one bond issue, a $155.57 million bond in 2010 to provide capital expenditures for higher education and special schools, was approved. This means that voters in New Mexico approved 96 percent of bond issues on the ballot between 2006 and 2018.
The following table contains information on the 25 bond issues that appeared on the ballot in New Mexico between January 1, 2006, through January 1, 2020:
| Year | Measure | Amount | Primary purpose | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Question A | $15,958,000 | Senior citizen facilities | |
| 2006 | Question B | $118,360,000 | Higher education | |
| 2006 | Question C | $9,090,000 | Public libraries | |
| 2008 | Question A | $14,725,000 | Senior citizen facilities | |
| 2008 | Question B | $11,019,000 | Public libraries | |
| 2008 | Question C | $57,925,000 | Health facilities | |
| 2008 | Question D | $140,133,000 | Higher education | |
| 2010 | Question A | $7,790,320 | Senior citizen facilities | |
| 2010 | Question B | $7,082,110 | Public libraries | |
| 2010 | Question C | $5,100,000 | K-12 education | |
| 2010 | Question D | $155,567,824 | Higher education |  |
| 2012 | Question A | $10,335,000 | Senior citizen facilities | |
| 2012 | Question B | $9,830,000 | Public libraries | |
| 2012 | Question C | $120,000,000 | Higher education | |
| 2014 | Question A | $17,000,000 | Senior citizen facilities | |
| 2014 | Question B | $11,000,000 | Public libraries | |
| 2014 | Question C | $141,000,000 | Higher education | |
| 2016 | Question A | $15,440,000 | Senior citizen facilities | |
| 2016 | Question B | $10,167,000 | Public libraries | |
| 2016 | Question C | $142,356,000 | Higher education | |
| 2016 | Question D | $18,196,000 | Public safety facilities | |
| 2018 | Question A | $10,700,000 | Senior citizen facilities | |
| 2018 | Question B | $12,876,000 | Public libraries | |
| 2018 | Question C | $6,137,000 | School buses | |
| 2018 | Question D | $128,405,000 | Higher education | |
General obligation bond debt
The New Mexico state treasurer provides an overview of the state’s debt resulting from general obligation bonds, which include all voter-approved bonds, each year on June 30.[5] A general obligation bond is public debt and is paid for through state funds, specifically funds from a statewide property tax in New Mexico.
According to the state treasurer's overview on June 30, 2018, New Mexico had $502.86 million in debt from general obligation bonds.[6] The June 2018 debt from general obligation bonds was higher than the June 2017 debt, which was $300.17 million.[7] The graph below provides an illustration of state debt from general obligation bonds between June 30, 1998, and June 30, 2018:
Using population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, Ballotpedia calculated the per person amount of general obligation bond debt in New Mexico by year.[8] On June 30, 2018, the general obligation bond debt per New Mexican resident was $239.88. On June 30, 2017, the per person debt was $143.76. Between 1998 and 2018, the per person debt peaked in 2018. The graph below provides an illustration of state debt from general obligation bonds per New Mexican resident between June 30, 1998, and June 30, 2018:
Path to the ballot
- See also: Legislatively-referred state statute
In New Mexico, both chambers of the New Mexico State Legislature need to approve a bond issue by a simple majority during one legislative session to refer the bond measure to the ballot for voter consideration.
Bond Question A was introduced into the state legislature as Senate Bill 207 (SB 207) during the 2020 legislative session. On February 18, 2020, the New Mexico Senate approved the bond measure 41 to 0 with one member excused from voting. On February 20, 2020, the New Mexico House of Representatives approved SB 207 in a vote of 66 to 0 with four members excused. New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) signed the bond issue on March 11, 2020.[1]
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How to cast a vote
- See also: Voting in New Mexico
Click "Show" to learn more about voter registration, identification requirements, and poll times in New Mexico.
| How to cast a vote in New Mexico | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Poll timesIn New Mexico, all polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Mountain Time on Election Day. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[9][10] Registration requirements
To register to vote in New Mexico, each applicant must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of New Mexico, and at least 18 years old by the time of the next election. People convicted of a felony are eligible to vote after their prison time is completed, even if they are still on probation, parole, or another form of supervised release. Individuals who have been declared mentally incapacitated may not register to vote.[11] Potential New Mexico voters who were not registered automatically may use the New Mexico voter registration form, the national voter registration form, or the state's online voter registration portal to register. Completed registration materials may be mailed or delivered by hand to election officials. To register online, an applicant must have a state-issued ID. First-time applicants registering by mail must attach a valid form of identification to their registration materials, which includes a current and valid photo identification, or, a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, student identification card or other government document, including tribal IDs that show the voter's name and current address.[11] Automatic registration
New Mexico has automatic voter registration. Eligible voters are automatically registered to vote when they interact with a department of motor vehicles unless they opt out.[12][13] Online registration
New Mexico has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website. Same-day registration
New Mexico allows same-day voter registration.[14] Residency requirementsIn New Mexico, individuals can register to vote as soon as they become residents of the state.[15] Verification of citizenshipNew Mexico does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote.[16] All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[17] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters. Verifying your registrationThe New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office allows residents to check their voter registration status online by visiting this website. Voter ID requirementsNew Mexico does not require voters to present identification while voting, in most cases. The federal Help America Vote Act requires that individuals who register to vote by mail and who have not voted previously in a federal election in their state must provide either their driver's license or a paycheck, bank statement, current utility bill, or government document showing their name and address. Individuals voting by mail must include a copy of one of those documents with their absentee/mail-in ballot.[18] These requirements do not apply if an individual submitted a copy of their identification, their driver's license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number when registering to vote.
Some municipalities require identification when voting in local elections. Click here for more information. | |||||
See also
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 New Mexico State Legislature, "2020 Capital Projects," accessed February 24, 2020
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 New Mexico State Legislature, "2020 Capital Projects Text," accessed February 24, 2020
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ New Mexico Secretary of State, "Campaign Finance Information System," accessed March 18, 2019
- ↑ New Mexico State Treasurer, "State Treasurer Financial Statements," accessed April 2, 2020
- ↑ New Mexico State Treasurer, "Financial Statements – FY 2018," June 30, 2018
- ↑ New Mexico State Treasurer, "Financial Statements – FY 2017," June 30, 2017
- ↑ U.S. Census Bureau, "Population," accessed March 30, 2020
- ↑ New Mexico Compilation Commission, "New Mexico Statutes - Chapter 1, Article 12.1," accessed June 24, 2025
- ↑ New Mexico Secretary of State, "Voter Bill of Rights," accessed June 24, 2025
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 New Mexico Secretary of State, “Voter Registration Information,” accessed June 24, 2025
- ↑ New Mexico Compilation Commission, "New Mexico Statutes - Chapter 1, Article 1-4-5.2", accessed June 24, 2025
- ↑ New Mexico Compilation Commission, "New Mexico Statutes - Chapter 1, Article 1-4-5.8", accessed June 24, 2025
- ↑ New Mexico Compilation Commission, "New Mexico Statutes - Chapter 1, Article 1-4-5.7", accessed June 24, 2025
- ↑ New Mexico Secretary of State, "Voter Registration Eligibility Requirements and FAQs," accessed June 24, 2025
- ↑ The State of New Mexico, "Voter Registration Form," accessed June 24, 2025
- ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
- ↑ Congress, "H.R.3295 - Help America Vote Act of 2002," accessed September 30, 2025
- ↑ New Mexico Secretary of State, "Voting," accessed October 8, 2025
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