Fri, Apr 06, 2007
One Down, Two To Go
It went down to the wire... but
election officials in New Mexico told the Associated Press Thursday
night a bill calling for an increase in gross-receipts taxes for
residents of Doña Ana County, to fund New Mexico's proposed
Spaceport America, has narrowly won voter approval.
In an AP story reported on the KOB-4 website, unofficial results
from the county clerk's office shows the tax increase leading by
265, out of more than 17,000. Election supervisor Lynn Ellins
states 108 provisional ballots are left to be counted... and that
means a win.
And you thought the 2000 presidential election was close. As Aero-News reported, many
citizens of the predominantly rural county expressed opposition to
the tax, saying it calls on poorer residents of the state to fund
the dreams of the rich -- money they say would be better spent
on existing ills faced by the county's poorer residents.
State Economic Development Director Rick Homans said the vote
clears the way for final development work to begin on the
spaceport, located an hour's drive southeast of Truth or
Consequences, NM.
The quarter-percent gross receipts tax increase is expected to
raise an estimated $49 million in funding for the spaceport, which
is expected to see its first manned spaceflight take off in about
two years.
While one hurdle appears to be surpassed, two others remain. The
land Spaceport America sits on rests in three counties... and
similar referendums are expected for residents of Sierra and Otero
counties in the coming weeks.
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