GO Bond 3 would invest in New Mexico’s future through higher education

General Obligation Bonds, or GO Bonds, come before New Mexico voters every two years and provide an important source of funding for capital improvements at higher education institutions across the state. The bonds help colleges and universities modernize facilities, expand educational opportunities and provide students with the resources they need to succeed.

This November, New Mexico voters will have an opportunity to consider GO Bond 3 for Higher Education, which could provide more than $351 million for higher education projects statewide, including $126.1 million for The University of New Mexico and its branch campuses. There are no tax increases associated with the bonds.

The proposed investment would support projects designed to strengthen student success, expand workforce training and ensure New Mexico's colleges and universities have modern facilities to educate the next generation of the state's workforce.

UNM's largest proposed project is a new $116 million School of Medicine education and research facility. The state-of-the-art facility would replace Fitz Hall, which has served the School of Medicine for more than five decades and no longer adequately supports modern medical education, research, technology and enrollment growth. The new facility could provide expanded classrooms, simulation and active-learning environments, research laboratories and collaborative spaces. It could also provide UNM the infrastructure needed to increase medical school capacity from approximately 103 to as many as 200 students per year, helping strengthen New Mexico's pipeline of physicians and other healthcare professionals.

UNM's four branch campuses could also benefit from the passage of GO Bond 3, which would provide critical investments at each campus helping students access modern learning environments and support services closer to home. Projects include a $3 million renovation of the north wing of Calvin Hall at UNM-Gallup, a $3 million Student Services and Success Center at UNM-Los Alamos, a $2.5 million renovation of Pueblo Hall at UNM-Taos and $1 million to transform an existing facility into an instructional center for Automotive Technology and Welding programs at UNM-Valencia.

At UNM-Gallup, the Calvin Hall renovation would modernize classrooms, laboratories, technology and collaborative learning environments, strengthening educational pathways in science, health care and related fields while supporting workforce needs in northwestern New Mexico. At UNM-Los Alamos, the Student Services and Success Center would centralize advising, academic support, career development and other student-facing services in a modernized facility.

Additionally, GO Bond approval would provide $600,000 could go to UNM to help provide needed funding for the New Mexico Reforestation Center, a collaborative statewide initiative focused on supporting forest restoration efforts in areas ravaged by wildfire throughout New Mexico and the Southwest. Located in Mora County ion northern New Mexico, the NMRC is a collaborative project founded by New Mexico State University, New Mexico Highlands University, The University of New Mexico, and the state Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department's Forestry Division. In 2026, the NMRC broke ground on its first dedicated nursery facilities and expects to deliver one million seedlings for reforestation in the fall of 2028. In subsequent years, the Center will scale production to five million seedlings annually.

Beyond the direct benefits to students and campuses, GO Bond 3 would have a significant economic impact across New Mexico. Passage of the bond is expected to support approximately 3,500 jobs in architecture, engineering, construction, education and related industries while generating hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity across 25 cities in 22 counties. Local businesses, contractors and communities throughout the state would benefit as projects move forward.

Continued investment in higher education also helps New Mexico compete for new businesses and industries seeking a highly skilled workforce. Modern classrooms, laboratories, research facilities and student support spaces can help attract and retain talented students and faculty, strengthen research and innovation, and prepare graduates for careers in health care, science, technology, skilled trades and other high-demand fields.

For students across New Mexico, these investments represent more than improvements to buildings. They provide the infrastructure needed to learn, conduct research, develop career-ready skills and prepare for the state's workforce needs.

New Mexico voters have consistently supported higher education GO Bonds, approving them in every election since 2012, including 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2024. This year's proposal continues that tradition of investing in higher education, workforce development and economic growth without increasing taxes.

The 2026 General Election is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Early in-person absentee voting begins Oct. 6, with expanded early voting running Oct. 17-31.

For complete information about the proposed UNM projects, visit UNM's 2026 General Obligation Bonds website.