DALLAS - Voters in six New Mexico school districts approved nearly $200 million of bonds for construction and repairs, officials said.
The largest of the bond proposals on the Feb. 4 ballot, $65 million for Las Cruces Independent School District, will funds security and technology upgrades and build soccer and baseball fields. About $24 million is dedicated to renovation of the Las Cruces High School.
Moody's Investors Service in November raised its outlook on the Las Cruces school district's Aa1 credit to stable from negative in advance of a $10 million issue. Located in Dona Ana County, the district has 24 elementary schools, eight middle schools and six high schools serving about 25,000 students.
In the Carlsbad School District, voters approved $60 million for four new school sites. Construction of the elementary schools is expected to take five years, according to school officials.
In the Gadsden School District, voters approved $38 million for the renovation of the Gadsden High School and other schools in the district.
Voters in the Deming School District approved $27 million of bonds by a nearly two-to-one margin to finance two new schools. The state government is expected to contribute $51.8 million for the construction and renovation effort.
The Cloudcroft ISD won voter approval of $3.75 million of school bonds, while Cuba Independent School District voters approved $2 million of bonds.
