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CNM and UNM to Build Campus on the West
Side
| Voters say "yes" to a tax increase in
Rio Rancho for campus near the city's new downtown |
by DEBORAH TORZA
Rio
Rancho residents recently voted to pass a gross receipt tax
increase to pay for a combined university campus between two
of the largest universities in Albuquerque: CNM and UNM.
Residents
will soon pay 6.9375 percent in gross receipt taxes, which
is a .25 percent increase.
"The
Higher Education Initiative will generate at lease $20 million
over the next 20 years to construct state of the art facilities
and other land improvements to make the new campus a reality,"
President David Schmidly said.
Due
to the rapid growth on Albuquerque's West side and in Rio
Rancho, a campus for those who pursue a degree in higher education
is in demand.
Currently,
there are 5,000 registered students who commute from Rio Rancho
to UNM. CNM has a West side campus off Universe Boulevard.
Melvin
Luna is a business major at CNM who takes classes at the West
side campus.
"I
love the West side campus because it only takes about 15 minutes
to get to school from my house. It's especially convenient
with the high gas prices right now."
CNM's
West side campus has also had a spike in students who enroll
for classes on that campus. The president of CNM said she
is equally excited about the recent approval.
"What
a wonderful event to be able to open a new building -- especially
one that will be part of a growing community in the western
part of our city," Katharine Winograd said.
UNM
plans to build a campus in Rio Rancho similar in size to the
main campus. Currently, the university ownes about 300 acres
near Rio Rancho's downtown area.
Schmidly
predicts that there may be around 10,000 students who will
enroll at the Rio Rancho campus by 2020.
Written
March 13, 2008
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|
What do Gross Reciept Taxes do for a Community?
Taxes vary not only by state, but also by regions within New Mexico. New Mexico families pay three primary taxes: gross receipt, income and property.
In New Mexico, there are more than 120 different gross receipt rates that vary within different jurisdictions.
The gross receipt tax generages 47 percent of state and local revenues. Five percent of the tax goes to the state and the local municipality is allocated the remainder of the tax percentage.
Gross receipt taxes are a debate among economists. Some economists say that it's best not to have the tax and allow people to spend their money as they please. Other economists say that the tax is needed for infrastructure needs.
The tax pay for jails, court houses, parks, animal shelters, water towers, schools. etc. The tax also pays for the operating costs that are involved for running these facilities.
This debate leaves taxpayers with the question: If the state didn't take the money, would residents freely give a portion of theirs to pay for infrastructure and operating needs on facilities that are used on a daily basis?
CNM and UNM's Student Population
The oldest university in Albuquerque is the University of New Mexico.
UNM was founded in 1889. In 1929, there were fewer then 1,000 students.
UNM's fact book shows that in 2006, the university has a total of 32,347 registered students.
Central New Mexico Community College has a 40-year history in Albuquerque. It began as a technical college for students interested in trade fields in 1965.
CNM grew to become the second largest educational facility in Albuquerque.
In 1965, there were 150 students who enrolled for classs. Now CNM serves more than 21,600 students in its four school branches. |
