Voters in Bernalillo County, N.M. handily approved $617 million in school construction funding during a special mill levy and general obligation bond election Feb. 2nd.
The mill levy’s 68.3% ‘yes’ vote continues existing property taxes through 2015 while $225 million in general obligation bonds received 72.1% approval. “The focus with this money will be on renewal and renovation of our older schools,” says Karen Alarid, AIA, executive director of capital operations and director of facilities design and construction at Albuquerque Public Schools. “The average age of an APS school is about 40 years old and they are due.” Some new construction is also funded.