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Friday, May 16, 2008

Otero County Residents Asked To Support Spaceport Tax


Associated Press
      ALAMOGORDO — Now that voters in Dona Ana and Sierra counties have approved a tax aimed at funding New Mexico's spaceport, a top official took his pitch to Otero County.
    Spaceport executive director Steve Landeene gave a public presentation Thursday, telling residents what the facility could bring.
    Otero County will consider a gross receipts tax later this year that would help spend $200 million to build Spaceport America.
    Dona Ana County residents narrowly approved the tax last year and Sierra County voters passed it last month. The Sierra County vote allowed officials to create a tax district to fund the project.
    As he has done during presentations in other communities, Landeene urged Otero County residents to view the proposed quarter-cent tax as an investment. The spaceport involves economic development, tourism and education, he said.
    "When you look at what that's going to do for us in terms of community development, the opportunities for children, et cetera, it's pretty amazing," Landeene said.
    The facility is planned about 40 miles north of Las Cruces.
    One resident, Allen Stenger, asked why Otero County voters should support a tax if the spaceport is coming anyway.
    "Seems like Otero gets a free ride if we want to," Stenger said.
    "It's not a slam dunk," Landeene said, explaining that Otero County's contribution is estimated at $6.6 million and a shortfall would have significant ramifications on spaceport infrastructure.
    Landeene also said the spaceport is a "multiple-faceted structure" and decisions are pending on where to locate different elements of the overall mission. For example, officials haven't determined a site to conduct training.
    Landeene said not everything will happen at the Sierra County site, and spaceport customers may need to use launch sites at White Sands Missile Range or resources at Holloman Air Force Base.
    "Otero can hide on the sidelines, but then does anything happen over here? Maybe not," Landeene said. "But if Otero is part of that coalition ... they will be part of the decision-making process."
    Landeene said limited job opportunities in New Mexico are driving young people to leave. He said government funds are exported, as well, when contractors are hired to perform work in other states.
    He said the spaceport could provide opportunities for contractors to set up a larger portion of their work force in New Mexico, attracting businesses that could encourage more New Mexico youth to stay home.
    According to a New Mexico State University study, the spaceport is expected to generate more than $1 billion in economic activity and about 2,250 jobs within its first five years of operation.
    Some expressed concern that Otero County is too far from the spaceport's location to realize many benefits.
    In response, Landeene noted the space industry has had a positive economic impact in Huntsville, Ala., despite the city's location some 700 miles from NASA facilities at Cape Canaveral, Fla.
    "What we're doing is putting in a public infrastructure. It's an airport," Landeene said. "Like an airport, public funds are used."
    He said the location was chosen because of low population density and restricted airspace.

Copyright ©2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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