Pictured is Light Hall Auditorium, which benefited from GO Bond funds passed in 2012. The auditorium renovations included new seating, flooring, roofing and the addition of state-of-the-art sound equipment.
Bond Money Will Help Fund Higher Education Without Raising Property Taxes While Creating Jobs
Silver City, NM – This fall voters in Grant County will have the opportunity to invest in the state's public colleges and universities without any increase to their property taxes. General Obligation Bond C (also referred to as GO Bond C) proposes a total of $139,755,000 for New Mexico's public colleges and universities, of which $6 million will be allocated to Western New Mexico University. These funds will be used to improve and upgrade the university's main campus in Silver City. These voter-approved projects create new jobs in Grant County, all without increasing property taxes.
Voter approved GO Bond C funding is the only source of funding for many New Mexico-based public colleges and universities. Many institutions use GO Bond C as an opportunity to repair and renovate aging structures, while others invest in critical science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs essential to the state's schools remaining competitive and attracting the best and brightest students from around the globe.
"A vote on GO Bond C will ensure that WNMU will have the funding available to provide an education that will prepare our students to be successful and competitive in the global marketplace," said Dr. Joseph Shepard, WNMU President.
"These funds will also inject much-needed life into Grant County's economy because it will not only create jobs for architects, builders and contractors, but also business to local hotels, restaurants and grocery stores," Shepard added.
A complete guide to each GO Bond C project can be found by visiting www.higheredbondc.com.
GO Bond C will not only invest more than $139 million into the state's colleges and universities, but will do this without creating any additional financial burden on New Mexico's taxpayers. In fact, these projects will inject much-needed life into communities throughout the state that are still in an economic recovery cycle.
By investing in what taxpayers have already funded – the state's institutions of higher learning – New Mexico can modernize and remain globally competitive. Maintaining and upgrading aging structures and equipment allows colleges and universities to educate and train students for high paying careers and encourages them to stay in the state after graduation, contributing to the economy.
Absentee voting began October 7 and ends on Election Day, when absentee voters have the option to hand-deliver their completed ballot to any polling location within Grant County. Early voting begins October 18 and runs through November 3, and Election Day is Tuesday, November 4, with polls open for in-person voting from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
For additional information about General Obligation Bond C, including a detailed list of projects for Western New Mexico University, visit www.higheredbondc.com and click on the "My Community" tab.
Western New Mexico University has served the people of the state of New Mexico and its surrounding areas as a comprehensive, regional, rural, public coeducational university since 1893 and serves a student body diverse in age, culture, language and ethnic background.