Gov. Bill Richardson on Monday will make his first trip to Las Cruces since announcing that he’s running for president.
Richardson will be in town to announce his support for a proposed 1/4 percent gross receipts tax increase to help fund Spaceport America.
Richardson is scheduled to speak in front of a group of students at Vista Middle School, 4465 Elks Drive in Las Cruces, at sometime between 2:30 and 3 p.m.
An election on whether to increase the tax in Doña Ana County is tentatively set for April 3, though the county commission must formalize that in a vote that will be held early next month. If the tax is approved, 75 percent of revenue will go directly to spaceport infrastructure and operations, and 25 percent will come back to Doña Ana County to be invested in related projects.
Commissioner Bill McCamley has proposed using that money to create space academies at area high schools that would help prepare students to go on to New Mexico State University’s aerospace engineering program or a related field and then work in the space industry.
In addition to speaking at a news conference, Richardson may meet with students who have attended NASA’s Space Camp, said school district spokeswoman Jo Galvan.
It’s not known whether Richardson will take questions. Members of the national media may be following him.
Gov. Bill Richardson on Monday will make his first trip to