The sprawling Albuquerque Public Schools system may be in line for up to $200 million in facility upgrades and repairs, depending upon the result of a bond proposal in the coming November election.
Albuquerque voters will be tasked with two questions. One is asking for a $200 million general obligation bond, while the second is proposing to renew a 5-year property tax which will give the district an additional $430 million for the facility work.
With nearly 150 schools, the Albuquerque Public Schools district is by far the largest district in the state, and one of the largest in the country.
The combined bond and property tax funding would pay for a lengthy list of capital projects including the addition of classrooms, building of new gym space, and general site improvements.
All of the district’s schools are also be in line for HVAC updates, security system improvements, Americans with Disabilities Act compliance work, and new roofing, among other priorities.
In an open letter to the public, APS Superintendent Scott Elder has noted that roughly 85% of the district’s current schools were built before 1980.
“And though these aging buildings are steeped in nostalgia, they have their share of problems, too,” wrote Elder, “ranging from outdated classrooms, cafeterias, and gyms to safety concerns and temperatures that are too hot in the warm months or too cold in the winter.”
School bond and property tax questions have historically proven successful in Albuquerque. But in 2019 voters overwhelmingly defeated three such questions, one of which also asked for a $200 million bond.
