The largest community college in southern New Mexico is asking local voters to approve a $16 million bond next month that will be used to fund a variety of facility projects.
According to the official ballot language for the proposal, the $16 million will generally be used for “remodeling and equipping buildings and utility facilities,” as well as acquiring land and “making other real property improvements.”
Headquartered in Las Cruces, Dona Ana Community College is a thriving institution of higher learning with six different campuses and an enrollment of more than 7,000 students.
If approved, just over $2.8 million will target such specific projects as classroom configuration efforts, along with room furnishes, among other items, as a part of the school’s larger classroom renovation master plan.
A smaller $1.4 million of the bond will target improved security and safety system work at all of the school’s campuses, while $1.1 million is set for facility repair and maintenance projects, also at all of the campuses.
According to DACC officials, the $16 million general bond will be combined with another $16 million in state funding to take on all of the institution’s facility work.
Should the bond proposal prove successful it would officially authorize the Advisory Board of the New Mexico State University Dona Ana Community College District to authorize the bonds.
Dona Ana Community College’s other campuses are located in Anthony, Chaparral, and Sunland Park. The school’s current more than 6,000 student enrollment is up from 5,200 students recorded in the fall 2014 semester.
By Garry Boulard
