Raising taxes requires political courage, which is about as rare as anti-matter.  Sierra County isn't exactly rolling in wealth, and like most communities its citizens can easily argue that any tax increase needs to be used for health services, education, welfare, etc.  In other words, the very same arguments used by some in Congress to vote against NASA appropriations.  If Mr. Landeene and other spaceport supporters use the same arguments as NASA supporters, they face an uphill battle.  One point must be driven home relentlessly; it's about economic development... and that's the truth.

As reported today in the Las Cruces Sun, here's what that hill looks like from the bottom:

The state Legislature has provided most of the funding, leaving about $58 million to be paid for by gross receipts taxes in the three counties closest to the spaceport—Dona Ana, Sierra and Otero.

A vote on a spaceport tax in neighboring Dona Ana County narrowly won approval last spring, passing by 270 votes among more than 17,000 cast.

However, the Dona Ana County Commission voted in October to delay collecting the tax until a spaceport tax district is created. A district cannot be formed until at least two cities or counties approve the tax.

Otero County has not yet scheduled a vote.

Sierra County citizens will vote on April 22nd to go big or stay home.  If they vote to stay home, what are the chances that Otero County will not bother to schedule a vote, or that voters will support the tax increase if a vote is scheduled?

Imagine the NewSpace consequences if Spaceport America remains an unfulfilled vision.  How will this impact other states attempting to create citizen and political support to build commercial spaceports?  How much more difficult will it become for NewSpace entrepreneurs to convince investors that NewSpace is real?  How likely is it that Congress and NASA will add more money to the COTS (Commercial Orbital Transportation Services) project?

The vote won't be just about Sierra County, or just about New Mexico, but how many Sierra County citizens will know or care about this on April 22nd?