November voters within the reach of Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) will find a proposal on their ballots for a general obligation bond and tax mill levy amounting to $630 million.
According to the New Mexico Business Coalition (NMBC), almost half of the money will go toward building and construction projects at 19 schools in the district. The remainder would be used for districtwide capital projects upgrading and adding technology, portable classrooms, property acquisitions, security and safety, with about $69 million going to charter schools.
“There are legitimate needs for maintenance, but as the population continues to diminish, we should be taking a more deliberate look at how and where the money is spent,” NMBC wrote.
With this, NMBC states APS enrollment has dropped 20% over the past 10 years, and continues to drop. None of the money in the bond would be allotted for personnel, it writes, stating it is strictly reserved for physical structures.
“Declining enrollment has left anemic rolls in some schools. If some of these schools were combined, we would have a more robust attendance and dynamic learning experience. In addition, taxpayers would get better value for their investment,” NMBC wrote.
Though NMBC has voiced concerns against the proposal, the Albuquerque Journal recently released an editorial endorsing the bond.
In a rebuttal to NMBC’s argument citing a continual decline in enrollment, the Albuquerque Journal editorial board writes, “The administration emphasized the loss is spread across the district, not at a few schools; that some sites could indeed be repurposed for charter or other uses; and that the district is right-sizing buildings as it rebuilds and remodels.”
Though $110 million of the proposal is designated for technology districtwide, NMBC states these funds hold accountability issues, calling to question what the district has done with money received for the same purpose in the past.
If the bond does not pass, NMBC states property taxes could decrease in the area, though taxes will not increase if it passes. According to the Albuquerque Journal, while this may be true, the pandemic revealed how necessary it is to ensure a focus is placed on student needs in school.
The APS bond will be on voters’ ballots in the Nov. 2 election. Absentee and early voting is currently underway. Those looking for more information on the election may visit nmvote.org or berncovotes.org.
