bill to fund university of new mexico's capital projects introduced in state legislature

Members of the New Mexico State Legislature may approve just over $27 million in capital projects for the University of New Mexico during the current regular session.
Senate Bill 280, introduced by Senators Carlos Cisneros and Jim Trujillo, is currently under review in the Senate Finance Committee.

That legislation, if ultimately passed by both chambers, would see $6 million going for the phase two construction of the ROTC Complex on UNM’s main Albuquerque campus.

Last November voters approved a general obligation bond providing $6 million for the first phase of that construction.

The complex, upon completion, will provide a single location for all of the Air Force, Army, and Navy ROTC programs at the school.

UNM also hopes to receive $3.5 million for the construction of the 14,000 square foot Comprehensive Movement Disorders Center, a building that will also include a clinic, library, and physical therapy space.

The university is additionally asking for $11 million in funding for a wide variety of facility safety and technology upgrades on the main campus.

Lawmakers will be voting on a $975,000 UNM request for campus facilities infrastructure work and classroom upgrades at the school’s Gallup campus.

Additional funding requests include $1 million for classroom upgrades and sustainability projects at the Los Alamos campus; $2.5 million for roadway and parking lot improvements on the Taos campus; and $750,000 to remodel the Valencia campus’ Learning Resource Center.

By Garry Boulard

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