State to hold pro-spaceport meeting in T or C

State officials hoping to convince Sierra County voters to approve a tax increase to help fund Spaceport America will hold a town hall meeting there on Tuesday.

New Mexico State University Business Dean Garrey Carruthers, state Sen. John Arthur Smith and spaceport Executive Director Steve Landeene, all supporters of the project, will promote the spaceport to voters in Sierra County at the meeting. According to a news release, they will discuss “how Spaceport America will improve the quality of life in Sierra County.”

Voters will decide on April 22 whether to raise the gross receipts tax by 1/4 of a percent. That would provide a little more than $2 million for the spaceport project and also allow the state to collect a tax in Doña Ana County that was approved by voters last year that would provide about $49 million.

The town-hall meeting will be held at Hot Springs High School’s gymnasium at 6 p.m. Tuesday. The school is located at 1200 N. Pershing Street in Truth or Consequences.