Date:
3/9/2006
Contact: Wendel Sloan at 505.562.2253
PORTALES—Eastern New Mexico University has received approximately $5.175 million in new funding from the 2006 New Mexico Legislative Session.
Included in this total is $3.575 million for capital outlay. In House Bill 622, Governor Bill Richardson approved $1.5 million for the renovation of Eastern's Science Building. This will be added to the $7 million that ENMU received for the Science Building in the 2004 General Obligation Bond. The Governor also approved $400,000 for fiber optic construction on campus.
Eastern also received $1.675 million in other capital outlay projects. The largest of these is $1.1 million for digital equipment for KENW-TV. Other items include $225,000 for a language lab, $100,000 for multimedia classrooms, $75,000 for a KENW-TV mobile unit, and a total of $150,000 for an agricultural lab, athletic training equipment, communication building equipment, and wellness center equipment.
In the Junior Bill (House Bill 415), Eastern will receive recurring funds of $77,000 for the Student Success Program and $25,000 for science enhancement.
"We are very pleased with the support we received from Governor Richardson," said Dr. Steven Gamble, ENMU president. "He has visited Eastern several times, and we believe his support is recognition of the vital role that Eastern plays in New Mexico's higher education system.
"We are also very grateful to Senator Stuart Ingle. His leadership was critical in our funding, including the $1.1 million we received for the digital conversion of KENW-TV. Senator Ingle has long been one of Eastern's strongest advocates. Representative Keith Gardner also helped secure funding for Eastern, as did virtually all of the senators and representatives on the eastern side of the state."
Eastern will also receive an additional $1.5 million in recurring funding to its base formula based on enrollment growth.
If voters approve the November 2006 General Obligation Bond, Eastern will also receive an additional $4.5 million for renovation to its Music Building.
"All in all, Eastern fared well in the Legislative Session," said Gamble. "We are in good shape. We really appreciate the support we received from the Governor and the entire Legislature."