CIBOLA COUNTY, N.M. – There are two bond measures on the upcoming November 2 ballot, both asking for permission to approve a $2 tax each, per $1,000 of a property’s taxable value. If approved, both questions will see the money used for purposes of enhancing schools and equipment inside of them. Only one of the questions, however, will be on a voter’s ballot, either the question pertaining to Grants/Cibola County School District, or the question pertaining to Quemado Independent School District.
GCCS
Grants/Cibola County School District is asking for a continuance of an existing $2 tax. The district needs permission to keep the tax going, from the people they will be taxing. In return for the tax, voters can continue to take advantage of the education provided to their children and get to elect members to the school board. One seat of the school board is also open to the public, with Member Dion Sandoval being contested by Aleisha Lundstrom in District One.
This $2 tax is already in place, it currently does and will continue to be used for improvements to existing schools in the county, maintenance of existing schools, purchase of school vehicles, improvements to internet accessibility, and to purchase new property to house any newly purchased items. The tax includes fiber optic internet transition, making internet capabilities faster and more accessible to students and staff. This tax specifically denies administrators from using collected tax money for their salaries.
This tax is currently in place; voters will be presented with a “Yes” option to continue the tax, or a “No” option to stop the tax. If approved, the tax will continue until 2026 when it will need to be reapproved
If approved, this tax will only affect the taxpayers whose ballot it appears on.
QISD
Quemado Independent School District seeks to impose a $2 tax per $1,000 of net taxable property. The district needs permission to impose this tax, which comes on the same ballot as four of the five school board seats, all of which have candidates running unopposed. According to the Cibola County Clerk’s Office, this question should only appear on the ballot of people in and around the Fence Lake, N.M., area of Cibola County.
The tax will be used for the construction and rehabilitation of kinder- and pre-kindergarten facilities in the school district, the purchase of school activity buses, and the purchase and upgrade of internet and technology across the school district.
Voters will be presented with a “Yes” option to approve the tax, or a “No” option to reject the tax. If approved the tax will be in place until 2027, when it will need to be reapproved by the voters.
If approved, this tax will only affect tax payers whose ballot it appears on.
Election Dates
Oct. 5
Early voting began at the County Clerk’s Office; Absentee ballots began being sent out
Oct. 16
Early Voting in Acoma, Laguna, and Ramah for one day only
Early voting begins at Old County Complex and ends Oct. 30th. Hours will be Tues. to Sat. 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Oct. 28
Last day to submit absentee ballot applications
Oct. 30
Early voting ends:
Old County building 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
County Clerk’s Office 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Nov. 2
Election Day. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; if you are in line at 7 p.m. you can stay in line and vote.