Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 18, September 24, 2024
A. The
state educational institutions clearly have statutory authority to borrow
money.
(1) Sections
6-13-1 through
6-13-26
NMSA 1978 authorizes each of the governing boards to issue and sell bonds for
the purpose of erecting, purchasing or otherwise acquiring, altering, improving
furnishing and equipping any necessary buildings or structures or acquiring any
necessary land. Permanent fund income and income from the lease of the
institutions lands may be pledged as security for the repayment of the bonds.
Board of finance approval is required prior to the issuance and sale of bonds.
Board of finance policy requires higher education department approval prior to
their consideration of any matter related to higher education.
(2) Section
6-17-1
through
6-17-13
NMSA 1978 authorizes the boards of regents of each of the state educational
institutions to borrow money for the purpose of purchasing, erecting, altering,
improving, repairing furnishing and/or the equipping of any income-producing
dormitory, auditorium, dining hall, refectory, stadium, swimming pool, or any
type of building including classroom buildings and administration buildings.
For income-producing projects, the board of regents shall impose charges and
student fees in the amount needed to retire the debt plus enough to operate and
maintain the facility. Approval by the board of finance is required.
(3) Section
6-17-14
allows the pledge of additional revenues including the net income from all
auxiliary facilities, land and permanent fund income, and lease and rental
income.
(4) Various articles in
Section 21 grant each individual board of regents authority to borrow money
through the issuance and sale of bonds. For example, Section
21-7-13
NMSA 1978 states: That for the purpose of erecting, altering, improving,
furnishing or equipping any necessary buildings at the university of New Mexico
at Albuquerque, or for acquiring any necessary land for the use of said
university, or for retiring the whole or any part of any series of bonds
previously issued under the provisions hereof, or for any of such purposes, the
board of regents of the university of New Mexico is hereby authorized to borrow
money in conformity with the terms of this act (Sections
21-7-13
to
21-7-25
NMSA 1978).
(5) Section
21-7-19
describes the income pledged for redemption of building and improvement bonds
as follows: "For the faithful and prompt payment of all interest and principal
of said bonds as and when the same shall mature according to the tenor thereof,
the issue thereof shall constitute an irrevocable pledge by said board of so
much of each year's income from the permanent fund of the university of New
Mexico in the hands of the treasurer of this state, as shall be necessary to
provide the interest and retirement fund herein mentioned, for the ensuing
year, and to at all times fully and faithfully keep the same in not less than
the amount necessary to pay the interest and principal maturing as aforesaid;
and in addition thereto the issue of said bonds shall constitute an irrevocable
pledge by said board of so much of each year's income from the income and
current fund derived from the lease of such of its lands as remain unsold, as
may be necessary to fully protect the interest and retirement fund for the
ensuing year, and keep the same at all times in proper amount as herein
provided."
(6) Similar provisions
are included in Section 21 for each of the state educational
institutions.
B. A
proposal to issue revenue bonds must contain the following information:
(1) current bonded debt including debt
service requirements and revenue sources being used to meet the principal and
interest payments;
(2) amount of
new bonds to be issued;
(3)
projected bond retirement schedule;
(4) sources of revenue to be used for debt
retirement;
(5) projects to be
funded with bond issue proceeds.
C. Typical sources of revenue available for
debt service include required student fees, net revenues from auxiliaries
including athletics, lease and rental income, and land and permanent fund
income. It is expected that bonds sold to finance income-producing facilities
(auxiliary activities) will be retired without the use of land and permanent
fund income. Since the use of land and permanent fund income for debt service
reduces the amount of revenue available from that source for operating
purposes, it increases the level of need from the general fund. Because of this
legislative impact, the higher education department shall report all revenue
bond issue approvals to the legislative finance committee, particularly noting
any proposed use of land and permanent fund income.