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Hobbs board to ask voters to renew two mill levies in November; district reports recent bond sale at 3.24%
Summary
The Hobbs Municipal Schools Board approved a resolution to place two existing mill levies on the November 2025 ballot and received an update that the district sold bonds with a 3.24% tax-exempt rate and seven‑year final maturity.
The Hobbs Municipal Schools Board voted to place a renewal of two existing mill levies — the SB 9 two‑mill and HB 33 four‑mill levies — on the November 4, 2025, regular election ballot. The board approved the resolution by roll call vote: Calderon — yes; Jones — yes; Roman — yes; Board President O'Brien — yes.
The district’s fiscal advisor, Brad Angst of Stifel Public Finance, told the board the levies are local capital maintenance and improvement funding the state expects the community to provide for facilities. Angst said the levies have been in place for more than 10 years and the district is asking voters to renew them for another six years so the levies do not expire in 2026. He advised placing the question on the November 2025 regular election to avoid a costlier special election that would require mailing ballots to all registered voters.
In a separate update, Angst reported the district completed a recent bond sale with a seven‑year final maturity and secured a 3.24% tax‑exempt interest rate. The board and staff had instructed keeping the mill levy level steady; Angst said the bond sale met that directive.
Why it matters: SB 9 and HB 33 mill levies pay for ongoing maintenance and capital improvements that state operational funding does not cover. If voters do not renew the levies and the district wants to retain that revenue, the district would need to hold a special election before the levies expire, which the advisor said would add costs.
Board members asked procedural questions about the election timing and mailing requirements for special elections; Angst answered that special elections require mailing a ballot to every registered voter with return postage and carry added district costs. The board approved the resolution and confirmed it will be on the November 4, 2025 ballot.
Board President O'Brien and Superintendent Jean Strickland framed the vote as preparation for the election calendar the district must meet in the coming months. The board will continue to track the election calendar and report updates at future meetings.
The motion to approve the mill levy resolution was carried by roll call; the board did not specify any conditions attached to the resolution.
Provenance: the board discussed the mill levy resolution and the bond sale in the board business section, including a presentation by Brad Angst and the subsequent roll call vote.
