C&TSRR Funding
Author: Bob
Date: 02-06-2009 - 09:41
It looks like the yearly fight for funding for the tourist railroad, the C&TSRR, is in big trouble this year.
New Mexico's legislative session ends on the 15th of Feb. and as far as I have been able to discover, no funds are forthcoming. Maybe a $500,000 offer from the Governor's offce. New Mexico is scrambling to find about $319 Million in "new money" just to cover present costs statewide.
In Colorado, the revenue has dropped to the point that already a 1 1/2 Million dollar grant for trackwork has been withdrawn by the Governor's office there. But a $175,000 grant for foundation work to the Osier Section House has been approved.
As for New Mexico--with the Governor under investigation by the U.S. Attorney in Albuquerque, his days of pressuring the New Mexico Finance Authority to keep funds flowing to the C&TSRR maybe over.
According to newspaper reports out of Albuquerque, Richardson is under investigation for just about everything involving money. Included is his throwing money at the C&TSRR despite years of red ink at the railroad.