Thursday, December 16, 2010

Richardson dumps plan for wild-horse haven to help shore up budget

Santa Fe New Mexican
by Kate Nash
Dec. 15, 2010

"The state won't buy a private ranch to expand the Cerrillos Hills State Park and establish a wild-horse sanctuary south of Santa Fe, Gov. Bill Richardson's office said Wednesday, calling the move "unfeasible."

Richardson had been heavily criticized for the idea, which would draw millions of dollars from a pot of federal economic-stimulus funds that are being spent at the governor's discretion.

Instead, Richardson will use $3.1 million to help stave off additional state-employee furloughs and layoffs amid a projected state budget shortfall of $400 million.

"While the purchase of the ranch was a great opportunity for the state, and would have been a big boost to tourism and the local economy of the Galisteo Basin, moving forward at this time is unfeasible," Richardson said in a statement. The governor is in North Korea on an unofficial diplomatic mission." More>>>>

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