New Mexico Statutes Chapter 21. State and Private Education Institutions § 21-13-21. Addition of school districts to existing community college districts

A. The school board of a school district, group of school districts within a county or school districts in an adjoining county, not included in the community college district as originally formed, may by resolution petition the higher education department  1 to be added to the community college district. The resolution may be initiated by the school board or upon presentation to the school board of a petition signed by ten percent of the qualified electors of the district.

B. In reviewing the resolution, the higher education department shall ascertain the attitude of the community college board and ensure that the petitioning district is not already within another institution's service area. If the department finds that the proposed addition of the petitioning district is not within another institution's service area and the proposed addition is acceptable to the community college district, it shall approve the resolution. Thereafter, the petitioning district and the established community college district shall call an election pursuant to the provisions of the Local Election Act on the question of the inclusion of the area in the community college district.

C. If it appears on canvass of the results of the election a majority of the votes cast in each of the petitioning areas and within the established community college district was in favor of the addition of the petitioning area, the secretary of higher education shall declare the extension of the boundaries of the community college district to include the petitioning area in which the proposed addition referendum carried by a majority vote. The addition shall take effect on the next succeeding July 1.

D. The territory within each school district added to any existing community college district shall automatically be subject to any special levy on taxable property approved for the community college district for the maintenance of facilities and services and for support of bond issues.