Court buildings throughout New Mexico are in line for a series of facility upgrades as a result of legislation approved by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham.
Overall, Senate Bill 280 provides for more than $900 million in funding for a variety of projects including upgrades to senior centers, new roads, and flood control infrastructure.
But the legislation, with spending scheduled for fiscal years 2019 to 2023, is also providing nearly $1.8 million for the planning, design, and construction of extra space at the busy Second Judicial District Court in downtown Albuquerque.
The money for that project, which will also pay for equipping the new courtroom, will additionally see the demolition of an existing courtroom space on the building’s third floor.
Lawmakers also approved $1.5 million for general facility and technical upgrades at all magistrate courts and judicial district courts in New Mexico, funding that will also be used to purchase and install security systems.
An additional $800,000 will go for the planning and construction of facility improvements and new telephone systems at the Fourth Judicial District Court in central New Mexico, and the Ninth Judicial District Court on the eastern side of the state.
The Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court is also slated to received $230,000 in state funding to purchase and install upgrades to its existing security access control systems, an effort that will include both software and hardware upgrades.
In signing the legislation, Lujan Grisham, noting the large number of infrastructure projects that will be funded by the bill, remarked, “New Mexican individuals and families deserve that we do our best to allocate capital resources to projects that meet the needs of local communities and prioritize our most significant need and common goals.”
“Viewed as a whole,” the Governor continued, “this legislation furthers those ends.”
By Garry Boulard
