The 4 most expensive projects in the statewide bond packages

Oct. 17—There are four statewide bond questions on this year's general election ballot. If approved by voters, the general obligation bond projects would be funded with state property taxes.

This year's bond package would not increase the state property tax rate.

Universities, public libraries and senior centers around the state all depend on bond funding to maintain buildings and equipment. The most expensive projects in the bond package are all in the higher education bond question, which asks for $230.2 million for capital outlay projects.

Here are the four most expensive projects in the bond package:

Bond question three includes $52 million to replace the University of New Mexico Humanities building with a new Humanities and Social Sciences Complex. The funding is for demolishing the old building and planning, building, furnishing and equipping the new building.

Built in 1971, the Humanities building is in constant need of repairs, according to the College of Arts and Sciences Dean Jennifer Malat.

The higher education bond question would also give UNM $35 million to make renovations at the College of Pharmacy building.

The college trains many of New Mexico's pharmacists, according to College of Pharmacy Dean Don Godwin: 81% of active licensed pharmacists in the state graduated from the program.

New Mexico State University would get $20 million to plan, build, renovate and equip campus infrastructure, including steam and electrical systems.

New Mexico State also would get $15 million to plan, build, renovate, repair and equip agricultural science and experimentation stations across the state. NMSU has 12 statewide agricultural science centers, located as far north as Farmington and as far south as Las Cruces.

The science centers research topics like water management, soil health, the health of lightweight calves, sustainable ranching, greenhouse gas mitigation, big game management, cropping systems, chile and crop adaptability, according to the NMSU Agricultural Experiment Station website.