A school district in the village of Dora in southeastern New Mexico is expected to see campus-wide facility improvements after the successful passage of a $3.5 million bond in last week’s election.
Voters in the village of around 120 people overwhelmingly approved, with around 78% of the vote, a bond proposed by the Dora Consolidated School District that will particularly target HVAC system improvements.
During the campaign, district officials emphasized that the bond was made more feasible due to the presence of the big Sagamore Wind Farm, a $900 million facility operated by Xcel Energy that was completed late last year which has positively impacted assessed property values in the village.
The HVAC work will entail replacing some 200 tons of current heating and cooling units that are nearly two decades old with new efficiency systems.
Besides the new HVAC work, the bond will also pay for electrical system upgrades, pavement repairs, roof work, bathroom repairs, athletic facility improvements, and Americans with Disabilities Act compliance work.
A facility master plan published by the district last month identified up to $15.1 million in capital improvement needs between 2022 and 2027.
By Garry Boulard
