Proponents backing a sales tax increase in Sierra County to benefit New Mexico’s Spaceport America received a financial boost from Gov. Bill Richardson’s unsuccessful campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Voters in the county on April 22 overwhelmingly approved an additional 0.25% sales tax that will support local bonds for the facility, and to establish a regional spaceport authority with neighboring Doña Ana County, where voters approved similar measures in 2007.
The Richardson for President campaign in early April gave $10,000 to People for Aerospace of Sierra County, a political action committee formed by spaceport supporters.
Reports filed with the secretary of state’s office show that the committee raised about $105,000. The group said it spent approximately $96,700, with more than $45,000 going to a Las Cruces firm that does public relations work for the New Mexico Spaceport Authority, the state agency that will build and operate the spaceport.
Otero County voters are also expected to vote in November whether to join the spaceport district.
Revenues from the three-county sales tax would support an estimated $57.9 million of bonds for the $198 million project. The state Legislature has dedicated $115 million of severance tax bond proceeds to the spaceport, which is under construction in southern Sierra County. Other financing is expected from legislative appropriations and through federal grants.
