By Mary Alice Murphy

[Author's Note: Calls to the Grant County Clerk's Office and the Assessor's Office only confused this writer. I corrected my first draft! Be aware of what the questions say. Do not rely on what others have told you. Think for yourself, and READ the language, even though it contorts the brain.]

This author's calls to the Clerk's Office and the Assessor's Office hopefully can help you a bit.

The General Obligation Bond question, which may be the first question on the front page, according to the clerk's office [as this author could not find a sample ballot], is a For or Against authorizing the school district to issue general obligation bonds of the district, in one series or more, in the aggregate principal amount not exceeding $25,000000.

This one, as explained by the former assessor, would raise every property owner's taxes by 4.1 mil, which is equal to $4.10 dollars on every $1,000 of taxable value.

[Author's Note: Taxable property value is determined as one-third (1/3) of the property's appraised value.]

The other question on the ballot is the Public School Capital Improvements (2 mil) tax question. This is the equivalent of $2 for every $1,000 of taxable property value.

The capital improvements tax question is a request for renewal of an ongoing 2 mil levy on every property owner's tax bill for Silver's public school capital improvements.

A For answer to this question will not raise anyone's property taxes.

The schools' resolution and proclamation can be found in English and Spanish and downloaded from https://grantcountynm.gov/218/Elections  under Silver Consolidated School District Special Election

The page at the link above also says:

2024 Silver Consolidated School District 

Special Election, August 20, 2024
This election will be conducted by mailed ballot only. Ballots will be mailed July 24 - 26, 2024.

[Author's Note: You must return the ballot by 5 p.m. Aug. 20, 2024. If you return it by mail, send it several days ahead so you meet the deadline.]