Passage of bond equals small cost

What if you were told you won $12 million in the lottery and all it cost you to collect your prize was $2.50 a month?

Most of us with common sense would not pass up an offer like that.

This is basically what the Portales community has been blessed with by

the state of New Mexico. It isn’t often the officials in Santa Fe take

the time to recognize the need for quality public school facilities in

rural New Mexico, especially Portales. The upcoming Portales school

bond election is about making a tremendous improvement on our schools,

thanks to an $11.8 million commitment from the

New Mexico Public School Capital Outlay Council (PSCOC). If the bond doesn’t pass, Portales loses out on this $11.8 million.

If you can’t tell, I’m all for voting “yes” on the Sept. 18 bond issue.

I am a mother of two young children and am very concerned about what

education my daughters will receive. This is one of the more simple

ways we can all invest in the future of Roosevelt County by investing

in our education system.

And when I say “invest,” I mean a minimal financial commitment from Roosevelt County property owners.

For example, for a home valued at $100,000, one’s property tax would

increase approximately $2.50 a month. That’s a kid’s meal at one of our

fine dining establishments.

I ask all registered voters in Roosevelt County to take action and

get out and vote on this very important issue — especially all those

parents who have (or ever had) children in the Portales school

district.

Early voting is available already at the Roosevelt County Courthouse.

We all win with this one.

Noelle Bartl

Portales

Quality education worth higher tax

I’d like to encourage readers vote yes on the Portales school bond election scheduled Tuesday.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us as the state has

offered $11.8 million to help us replace two schools and do upgrades on

others. All we have to do is approve the bond. This money is a one-shot

deal. And if we don’t pass this, they will certainly award this money

to another needy district in New Mexico. All it takes if five minutes

to vote.

The main purpose of this bond is to replace Steiner Elementary

(opened in 1939) and Lindsey Elementary (opened in 1940). Both schools

have been rated on the state’s “Need Drastic Repairs or Rebuilt” list

and it would cost upwards of $26 million to upgrade them.

These buildings have served faithfully for all these years. Think of

the number of students that have passed through those halls, and the

thousands of memories that have been made there. Now think of how many

generations can benefit with a new school.

Think of how this might look to new families moving into Portales

(think Cannon Air Force Base) — they will see that we believe in our

schools and that this is a great place to live and grow.

A yes vote will keep making Portales a fantastic place to raise and educate children.

Remember, education is always a great investment.

Don Thomas

Portales