by Stephanie Kitts
Daily Lobo
Rio Rancho and Albuquerque residents will decide Thursday whether CNM can construct a building to share with UNM near Rio Rancho's downtown.
Mail-in ballots were sent out last month on whether to approve expanding CNM's taxing district north of Northern Boulevard in Rio Rancho, resulting in a property-tax increase for residents who live in that area.
This is the first phase of UNM's plans to build a campus in Rio Rancho similar in size to Main Campus.
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If approved, CNM can begin construction of a $20 million facility that will also be used by UNM until the University has its own facilities.
"They are prepared to start the building right away," UNM President David Schmidly said. "They want to extend the use of that building
to UNM."
The schools' board of regents approved an agreement Aug. 20 that will allow UNM to use CNM's new building, which would be adjacent to Rio Rancho's downtown near Paseo del Volcan and Unser Boulevard.
Students would receive their first two years of instruction from CNM and continue at UNM in the same facility.
"The idea is that students can get an associate's degree and bachelor's degree on the same campus," CNM President Kathie Winograd said. "We're trying to make it easier and more efficient for students."
UNM owns about 300 acres near Rio Rancho's downtown. CNM owns about 40 acres.
CNM already has the money it needs to construct the building, CNM spokeswoman Samantha Bousliman said.
CNM needs the measure to be approved because it cannot begin construction in the area until it is part of the college's district,
Bousliman said.
"We have not made a Plan B at this point," Bousliman said. "We will not be able to build on that land if this does not pass."
About 20,000 households, two-thirds of Rio Rancho, are south of Northern Boulevard and already pay the CNM tax, said Peter Wells, spokesman for the City of Rio Rancho.
CNM students who live north of Northern Boulevard in Rio Rancho pay higher tuition because they do not pay the property tax, Wells said.
He said that in order for CNM to start construction, the expansion must be approved by two groups of voters.
The measure will have to be approved by Albuquerque and Rio Rancho residents who already pay the CNM tax and Rio Rancho residents who are not in the taxing district, Wells said.
The tax is based on property values of homes. If the expansion is approved, residents outside the CNM district will pay about $10 more a month for every $100,000 their home is worth.
"What the voters are getting in return is a building that both UNM and CNM will share," Winograd said.
Schmidly said voting in favor of the bond is important because working with CNM will help bring UNM to Rio Rancho.
"If we had to start our own campus, it would cost several million dollars," he said. "We don't have that kind of money and neither does the state of New Mexico."
This expansion is only the beginning, Rio Rancho City Councilor Marilyn Salzman said.
UNM will need voter approval of another tax increase when it wants to start building its campus in Rio Rancho, Salzman said.
"UNM is also proposing an increase gross-receipts tax in Rio Rancho when they're ready to build," she said. "It's more than just meets the eye."
