LWV/ABC
Voters’ Guide for 2007 Albuquerque Municipal Election

Bond Issues

(updated 8/21/2007)

 

Ten General Obligation (G.O.) Bond questions will appear on the October 2, 2007 election ballot. The total amount of the proposed capital projects is $159,973,000 for the two-year bond cycle.

The projects have been grouped according to their general purposes into ten ballot questions. General Obligation bond projects are grouped by purpose so that voters have the option of approving one purpose and not another. Once approved, the funds must be used for the approved purpose only.

The projects proposed for voter approval were selected through a planning process that involved the Mayor, City Council and the public.

General Obligation Bonds and Taxes

There are several types of bonds, the most significant being General Obligation bonds and Revenue bonds. In this election, the ballot questions deal only with General Obligation bonds. A bond represents a debt for money borrowed by a government to finance capital improvement projects. The government promises to repay the amount borrowed, plus interest, over a period of time.

General Obligation bonds require approval by the voters. Historically the City of Albuquerque has limited the size of requested General Obligation bond issues in order to keep the City's property tax rate level from one bond issue to the next. The G. O. bonds issued by the City are paid from property tax revenues. New bonds are issued as older bonds are retired, keeping the City's debt service levy at a fairly constant level.

The bonds are called "General Obligation" because payment of the debt service (principal and interest) is a general obligation of the City and its property owners. That is, the bonds are backed by the full faith and credit of the City. The City receives only about 30% of the property taxes paid by the typical Albuquerque homeowner; almost 70% goes to other governmental and educational entities. The City property tax rate will not increase for these GO Bonds.


For more information on the Bond Issues, see the City of Albuquerque's Capital Implementation Program website


Use the quick links in the Table of Contents, below, or just scroll down the page, to see each bond issue.

Public Safety Bonds

"Shall the City of Albuquerque issue $12,184,000 of its general obligation bonds to design, develop, study, construct, modernize, automate, renovate, rehabilitate, recondition, landscape, furnish, enhance and otherwise improve, and to acquire land, vehicles, apparatus, and equipment for, police and fire department facilities?"

Fire Station Rehabilitation$750,000
Fire Apparatus Replacement $1,000,000
Fire Station 2 Rehabilitation $858,000
Radio Frequency Infrastructure, Phase II $1,250,000
Marked Police Vehicles $3,000,000
Sixth Area Command Headquarters $5,100,000
Shawn McWethey Sub Station $5,000
District 7, APD Facilities Renovation / Upgrade $100,000
1% for Public Art $121,000
TOTAL$12,184,000

Senior, Family, Community Center, and Community Enhancement Project Bonds

"Shall the City of Albuquerque issue $14,090,000 of its general obligation bonds to design, develop, construct, demolish, equip, renovate, rehabilitate, expand, repair, study, landscape, streetscape, enhance and otherwise improve, and to acquire land for, City-owned community centers including those for families, youth, senior citizens, and economic development; and for community enhancement projects?"

Renovations, Additions and Security Improvements: Existing FCSD Facilities $500,000
North Domingo Baca Park Multigenerational Center $6,300,000
Multi-Generational Community Center - Council District 8 $1,000,000
Thomas Bell Gymnasium $300,000
Far Northwest Albuquerque Community Center $500,000
Wesstcorp Incubator $500,000
Jeanne Bellamah Gymnasium $1,800,000
New York MRA $700,000
Senior Center Rehabilitation / Renovation $750,000
District 1, Community / Senior Center Enhancements $50,000
District 2, Community / Senior Center Enhancements $100,000
District 3, Community / Senior Center Enhancements $300,000
District 6, Community Center Improvements $100,000
District 9, Community / Senior Center Enhancements $250,000
Renovation of Downtown Cultural Facility for Teens $800,000
1% for Public Art $140,000
TOTAL$14,090,000

Parks and Recreation Bonds

"Shall the City of Albuquerque issue $37,491,000 of its general obligation bonds to design, develop, construct, rehabilitate, renovate, expand, furnish, landscape, study, protect, enhance and otherwise improve, and to acquire land, vehicles and equipment for, park and recreational facilities, including public parks and facilities within those parks, swimming pools, tennis courts, open space, medians, bikeways, bosque lands, and trails?"

Community Park Development $3,000,000
Neighborhood Park Development $1,250,000
Pat Hurley Park $2,750,000
Park Improvements and Amenities, District 8 $150,000
East Gateway Park (La Luz de Amistad Park) $1,000,000
Roadrunner Little League Improvements $50,000
Sandia Vista Park Improvements $200,000
Ventana Ranch Regional Park $1,500,000
Dog Park in District 7 $100,000
Vista de Estrella Park $250,000
Vehicle Set-Aside - DMD Park Design $300,000
North Domingo Baca Park $2,750,000
Swimming Pool Facility Development & Renovation $2,500,000
Park Renovation, Water Conservation, Tree & Amenity Replacement $2,000,000
Recreation Facility Renovation $750,000
Shooting Range Park Improvements $600,000
Tijeras Canyon Open Space Acquisition $500,000
Open Space Land Acquisition, Fencing, & Protection $5,500,000
Bosque Restoration & Revitalization $200,000
Jerry Cline Recreation Center $1,350,000
Vehicle & Equipment Set Aside - Parks & Recreation Department $500,000
Petroglyph National Monument Trails Management Plan $60,000
Balloon Fiesta Land Acquisition $3,000,000
Therapeutic Pool Feasibility Study $50,000
Golf Course Equipment & Improvements $1,000,000
District 1, Park Improvements and Amenities $420,000
District 2, Park Improvements and Amenities $400,000
District 3, Park Improvements and Amenities $200,000
District 4, Park Improvements and Amenities $1,000,000
District 5, Ventana Ranch Regional Park
District 5, Chamiza Elementary Soccer Field $300,000
District 6, Park Improvements and Amenities $365,000
District 6, Shooting Range Park $25,000
District 7, Park Improvements and Amenities $450,000
District 8, Park Improvements and Amenities $500,000
District 9, Park Improvements and Amenities $500,000
Albuquerque Bicycle Park, Phase II $1,000,000
1% for Public Art $371,000
TOTAL$37,491,000

Energy Conservation, Public Facilities, and System Modernization Bonds

"Shall the City of Albuquerque issue $13,972,000 of its general obligation bonds to equip, improve, acquire, design, survey, develop, construct, rehabilitate, renovate, maintain, expand, furnish, equip, enhance, modernize, make energy-efficient, upgrade, and otherwise improve, and to acquire land, vehicles and equipment for, public buildings, facilities, and systems?"

City Building Improvement & Rehabilitation (DMD) $600,000
Replacement Vehicles (DMD) $100,000
New Roofs for City Facilities $300,000
Security Improvements & Rehabilitation $100,000
Los Angeles Landfill Remediation $450,000
Animal Care Service Center Improvements $5,000,000
Phase II Bio-Disease Management Montessa Park Laboratory Facilities & Rehabilitation $800,000
Environmental Sustainability Program (EHD) $300,000
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) - Phase 2 $1,000,000
Wireless Network Infrastructure $170,000
3% for Energy Conservation (F/S O-06-34) $4,614,000
Albuquerque Geographic Information System $300,000
Vehicle Replacement: FCSD $100,000
1% for Public Art $138,000
TOTAL$13,972,000

Library Bonds

"Shall the City of Albuquerque issue $3,081,000 of its general obligation bonds to design, develop, construct, reconstruct, renovate, rehabilitate, modernize, preserve, automate, upgrade, landscape and otherwise improve, and to acquire books, media, and equipment for, public libraries?"

Library Materials $2,000,000
Library Automation $500,000
Special Collection Library: Renovation / Historic Preservation $400,000
Library Building Improvement $100,000
District 5, Taylor Ranch Library $50,000
1% for Public Art $31,000
TOTAL$3,081,000

Street Bonds

"Shall the City of Albuquerque issue $45,193,000 of its general obligation bonds to study, design, develop, construct, reconstruct, rehabilitate, renovate, automate, modernize, sign, enhance, landscape and otherwise improve, and to acquire land and equipment for municipal streets and roads, interstate roadways and interchanges, medians, trails, bikeways, walkways, sidewalks, railroad crossings, and bridges?"

Fourth Street Corridor Improvements $500,000
West Central MRA Project $1,000,000
Reconstruction of Lead and Coal Avenues - Council District 6 $2,000,000
Reconstruction of Lead and Coal Avenues $2,000,000
Reconstruction Major Streets $1,500,000
Reconstruction Major Intersections $1,500,000
Advance Trans. Planning & Eng. (Streets) $300,000
Advance Right-of-Way Acquisition (Streets) $500,000
Major Paving Rehabilitation $5,500,000
Intersection Signalization $1,500,000
Safety & Intersection Improvements $500,000
Bridge Repair $500,000
NW Arterial Roadway Improvements $1,500,000
SW Arterial Roadway Improvements $1,500,000
Traffic Sign Replacement / Lighted Street Signs / Pavement Markings $2,500,000
Sidewalk Improvements $750,000
Street Lighting $250,000
Public Works Funding (Sts) / LOS Study $500,000
East - West River Crossing Planning and Location Study $250,000
Golf Course Road Medians $1,500,000
Albuquerque Traffic Management System $400,000
Replace Street Maintenance Heavy Equipment $500,000
Atrisco Drive, SW $600,000
Neighborhood Traffic Improvements $250,000
Median Renovation & Water Conservation $500,000
Median Landscaping & Interstate Enhancements $2,975,000
Medians: Wyoming, Paseo del Norte to Burlison $750,000
Medians: San Mateo, Central to Zuni $150,000
Medians: Candelaria, San Mateo to Eubank $750,000
Medians: Central, Tramway to Eubank $625,000
Medians: Council District 8 $500,000
Medians: Coors, Central to Bridge $500,000
Barelas Pedestrian and Traffic Calming Improvements $250,000
Replace / Install Missing Sidewalks - Council District 2 $250,000
86th and Sage Street Improvements $750,000
72nd and Ladera Landscaping $150,000
Fortuna Road Improvements $500,000
Trails and Bikeways $1,850,000
Pedestrian Improvements, District 6, East Central $1,000,000
Paseo / I-25 / Jefferson Roadway Improvements $250,000
12th Street & Menaul Improvements $390,000
1% for Impact Fee Waivers $1,570,000
District 1, Street Projects $525,000
District 2, Street Projects $500,000
District 3, Landscaping, Sidewalks, Medians $400,000
District 3, Street Projects $100,000
District 6, Street Projects $510,000
District 7, Street Projects $450,000
District 8, Street Projects $500,000
District 9, Street Projects $250,000
1% for Public Art $448,000
TOTAL$45,193,000

Public Transportation Bonds

"Shall the City of Albuquerque issue $7,323,000 of its general obligation bonds to design, develop, construct, rehabilitate, renovate, expand, recondition, modernize, automate, study, furnish, enhance and otherwise improve, and to acquire land, vehicles, and equipment for public transportation facilities?"

Revenue Vehicles Replacement / Expansion (Transit) $2,750,000
West Side Park & Ride Improvements $1,250,000
West Side Transit Facility $500,000
Bus Shelter Rehabilitation/Upgrade $2,000,000
Transit Facility Rehabilitation $200,000
Maintenance Equipment Upgrade (Transit) $250,000
Transit Security Equipment Upgrade $50,000
Nob Hill Parking Structure - Location & Financial Feasibility Study $100,000
Parking Facilities Rehabilitation & Upgrade $150,000
1% for Public Art $73,000
TOTAL$7,323,000

Storm Sewer System Bonds

"Shall the City of Albuquerque issue $10,403,000 of its general obligation bonds to design, develop, construct, reconstruct, rehabilitate, renovate, expand, enhance, study, monitor and otherwise improve, and to acquire land and equipment for the storm sewer system?"

District 3 Storm Drain Improvements $4,000,000
NPDES Storm Water Quality $350,000
Advanced Planning and Engineering (Hydrology) $300,000
Hotel Circle / Morris North of Lomas $1,300,000
San Pedro Storm Drain, North Albuquerque Acres $1,000,000
Coal Storm Drain Rehab. and Extension $1,100,000
Storm Drainage Rehabilitation $450,000
Pump Station Rehabilitation $1,000,000
Kinley, Broadway to Edith $800,000
1% for Public Art $103,000
TOTAL$10,403,000

Zoo, Biological Park, Museum, and Cultural Facility Bonds

"Shall the City of Albuquerque issue $6,136,000 of its general obligation bonds to study, design, develop, construct, reconstruct, rehabilitate, renovate, repair, refurbish, modernize, maintain, expand, enhance and otherwise improve, and to acquire artifacts, exhibits, furnishings and equipment for, the municipal zoo, botanic garden, aquarium, and City-owned museums and cultural facilities?"

Aquarium Expansion, Phase II $1,800,000
Asian Experience / Tiger Habitat $1,750,000
Japanese Garden / Sasebo Exhibition $750,000
Renovation and Repair (BioPark) $500,000
Tingley Beach, Phase II $975,000
Albuquerque Museum Development $200,000
South Broadway Cultural Center $100,000
1% for Public Art $61,000
TOTAL$6,136,000

Affordable Housing Bonds

"Shall the City of Albuquerque issue $10,100,000 of its general obligation bonds in support of the Workforce Housing Act to provide resources towards the construction and rehabilitation of high quality, permanently affordable housing for low to moderate working families, including affordable senior rental?"

Affordable Housing Landbanking $10,000,000
1% for Public Art $100,000
TOTAL$10,100,000

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