Voters OK tax to fund spaceport

Spaceport America officials cleared a major hurdle when residents of Sierra County approved a tax aimed at financing the $200-million project.

With all precincts reporting, the tax passed by 980 votes among more than 3,110 cast, the county clerk’s office said.

Sierra County’s vote was crucial because a tax district to fund construction of the commercial spaceport needed approval by at least two counties. In neighboring Dona Ana County, the tax passed last spring by 270 votes among more than 17,000 cast.

Gov. Bill Richardson and Lt. Gov. Diane Denish praised the passage of the measure, saying that the spaceport project would bring thousands of jobs to the state.