LACDC News:
As voters go to the polls, Los Alamos Commerce & Development Corporation (LACDC) Board of Directors announces its support of the UNM-Los Alamos proposed bonds, which would primarily be used to update the campus’ aging facilities and infrastructure.
Projects include bringing the campus up to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards, replacing leaking roofs, updating 1940s elementary school buildings for higher education needs, upgrading IT systems and equipment for improved student learning and modernizing safety and energy efficiencies in buildings.
UNM-LA cannot receive money from The University of New Mexico main campus in Albuquerque. UNM-LA’s financial resources come primarily from local and state funds. Particularly, it is a state requirement for UNM-LA to match 25% of state funding with local money for capital projects. The bonds under consideration in this election would fulfill this obligation.
The $3 million of GO Bonds for campus improvement projects will increase property tax rates. The state will match the County’s $3 million in support with another $9 million, providing a total of $12 million to be used towards new capital improvement projects on the local campus.
To learn more about UNM-LA Bonds, including how much they will increase property tax rates, visit https://losalamos.unm.edu/about/go-bond/unmlabond-faq.html.
“Quality education is a key driver of economic success and community prosperity, and we are privileged to have access to the resources UNM-LA provides to our residents, so close to home. Over the years UNM-LA has continued to offer affordable academic programs adapted to the changing needs of the local business community, LANL and other industries, while giving students hands-on, paid experiences through its Community Internship Collaboration (CIC),” LACDC Executive Director Lauren McDaniel said. “UNM-LA now needs the community’s support to update their facilities and rebuild dated infrastructure to offer cutting-edge classrooms that train tomorrow’s leaders in fields ranging from technicians, welding and other trades, to nursing, early childhood education, mechanical engineering, broadband 5G, IT and cybersecurity and more. A vote for the bonds means Los Alamos residents want to continue to invest in our future workforce for the County and the region.”
The other bond under consideration is Bond 3, also known as the GO Bond, which is on the ballot every other year and supports statewide education capital improvement projects. UNM-LA would receive $1 million of these bonds to be used towards existing capital improvement projects that haven’t been completed due to the increase of cost of raw materials and wages.
To learn more about Bond 3, visit investinbond3.com/faq/.
The LACDC Board of Directors encourages voters to support these Bonds to ensure UNM-LA continues to thrive.
UNM-LA has served Los Alamos since 1956 with the establishment of the UNM-Los Alamos Center for Graduate Studies. The Graduate Center has been in continuous operation since that time. It has a distinguished history of offering graduate degrees in scientific, engineering, management and health-related fields.