Las Cruces voters approved $26 million in general obligation bonds to renovate and expand Thomas Branigan Memorial Library, according to unofficial results posted by the New Mexico Secretary of State's office with all 119 Doña Ana County precincts reporting.

Statewide, voters supported all four constitutional amendments and all three state bond questions in Tuesday's general election, Yahoo News reported, citing Las Cruces Sun-News reporting.

All results remain unofficial. The State Board of Canvass is scheduled to meet Tuesday, Nov. 24, to certify official results and order any automatic recounts, according to the Sun-News.

The $26 million library bond

The Las Cruces City Council approved a resolution in July 2026 placing the bond question before voters, according to the city's GO bond page.

The ballot asked: "Shall the City of Las Cruces be authorized to issue general obligation bonds, payable from property taxes, in an amount up to $26,000,000 to acquire, plan, design, develop, construct, improve, renovate, modernize, automate, furnish and equip the Thomas Branigan Memorial Library?"

The city says the bond is secured by property tax capacity already in place. The city's bond page states that voters determine whether to support the project "without a tax increase."

Thomas Branigan Memorial Library was built in 1979 and has had only two major renovations, the last in 2010, according to the city. Its 44,000 square feet is not adequate for community demand, and the children's area is about a quarter the size of comparable communities, the city says.

A library master plan completed in 2024 identified areas for improvement. The renovation and expansion project would add about 20,000 square feet, including improved ADA accessibility, increased security and more community space. Construction would take 18 to 24 months, according to the city.

The project was identified as a top priority in community input meetings, the city says. It has also received support through other funding sources, including a Tax Increment Development District (TIDD), legislative allocations and the capital improvements fund.

Under city ordinance, 2% of each GO bond purpose goes toward public art.

In 2022, Las Cruces voters approved $23 million in GO bonds for projects including an affordable housing trust fund, a new east mesa fire station and park improvements.

What comes next for the library

The city anticipates selling bonds around March 2027, with construction beginning as early as May or June 2027, as we reported Oct. 30. The renovation is expected to take 18 to 24 months, potentially allowing the library to reopen between late 2028 and mid-2029.

The library would have to vacate the building during construction. Services at the smaller Munson Center and Sage Café branches would expand, and a new bookmobile, expected in December 2027, would help extend services to neighborhoods.

Seven statewide measures

Las Cruces voters also weighed in on four constitutional amendments and three statewide bond questions, according to the Las Cruces Bulletin and the League of Women Voters of Los Alamos analysis.

Constitutional Amendment 1 eliminates the governor's pocket veto. Bills passed in the last three days of a legislative session will become law unless the governor vetoes them within 20 days of adjournment. The governor will also be required to provide a written explanation for any veto.

Constitutional Amendment 2 removes the requirement that school elections be separate from partisan elections. School districts can place bond and mill levy questions on general election ballots.

Constitutional Amendment 3 creates nominating committees to provide lists of candidates for the governor to appoint to university boards of regents. Non-student members cannot have changed their party registration in the 12 months before appointment.

Constitutional Amendment 4 allows state legislators to receive a salary capped at New Mexico's median household income, approximately $68,000, according to the League of Women Voters analysis. New Mexico legislators receive only per diem and mileage. The change takes effect in January 2029.

Bond Question 1 authorizes up to $21,582,213 in state general obligation bonds for senior citizen facility improvements statewide.

Bond Question 2 authorizes up to $19,324,188 for academic, public school, public and tribal library resource acquisitions statewide.

Bond Question 3 authorizes up to $352,225,379 for capital improvements at higher education institutions, special schools and tribal schools. The Santa Fe New Mexican reported the bonds will fund approximately 30 projects statewide.

Doña Ana County voters also approved a property tax levy of up to 0.25 mills for the Doña Ana Soil and Water Conservation District to fund local water protection, flood reduction, tree planting and habitat restoration, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican's southern New Mexico results coverage.

The State Board of Canvass meets Nov. 24 to certify results.