APS mill levy would help projects from replacing old pipes to buying musical instruments

Early voting for the Nov. 7 Local Election has already started, and I’m asking for your consideration on an important measure on the ballot.

I’m referring to the 2-mill levy for Albuquerque Public Schools that, if approved, will generate an estimated $264.7 million – roughly $44 million a year for six years beginning in 2025. The money would be used for school safety projects and maintenance at more than 140 APS schools and 50 charter schools.

I want to stress that this is a renewal of a mill levy tax that voters initially approved in 2019. The tax rate would remain the same: $2 per each $1,000 of net taxable value for property within the APS district.

Again, this wouldn’t be a new tax, and the money generated would help maintain all public schools in our district, including charter schools.

Making sure our schools are safe is a top priority for APS. The district has already invested more than $41 million on fencing, cameras and alarms, door locks, card access, secure vestibules, and other safety infrastructure at schools. But we have so much more to do to protect our schools. Money from this mill levy would help us continue that work.

The funding would also be used for things like roofs and heating and cooling units, replacing old water pipes, and Americans With Disabilities Act upgrades.

Many of our schools are older and require constant attention. One lesson I’ve learned as a homeowner is that when you put off maintenance, such as replacing a leaky roof, you often end up with a much bigger problem and spend a lot more. Schools are community assets, and this mill levy helps us safeguard those assets for future generations.

Money from this mill levy would also be used for computers and learning devices for students and teachers and to buy musical instruments to ensure that students who want to learn to play an instrument have the opportunity, regardless of their financial resources. It would purchase other fine arts and physical education equipment for all schools, classroom furniture, and library equipment. It would cover the cost of career technical education tools and equipment. And it would pay for artificial turf and other water and energy conservation upgrades at schools.

There are many reasons to support this mill levy. The funding will make our schools safer. The tax rate will not go up. Charter schools will get a piece of the pie. The projects will boost economic development in our community, generating jobs and benefiting merchants.

In my view, the most important reason to support it is because it will help us provide our students with a healthy and safe learning environment needed to improve student outcomes.