Track: Questions for the track
To the editor:
Posted: 08/31/2010 08:25:01 PM MDT (Ruidoso News)
There will be a non-partisan forum held to discuss the "Business Retention Tax," AKA racetrack bailout, at the Gateway Church, 415 Sudderth, on Thursday September 2 at 6pm. The audience will be able to submit written questions to a panel. I don't know who will be on the panel, but I plan to be there and I do have some questions.
(1) I have seen a copy of the sample ballot. Why doesn't it mention that Hubbard will get $750,000 total each year? Yes, the bean counters say the money actually goes to the state and is a tax credit for the racetrack, but money Hubbard doesn't have to pay in taxes is money in his pocket.
(2) How much do Lincoln county residents have to spend so that Hubbard will get this amount of tax credit? (My calculations, based on the 3/16 percent rate, show $400 million).
(3) If Hubbard is going to get taxpayer money, shouldn't he be required to provide more information about his administrative costs, which seem to be rather high? He refused to give any details about the racetrack administrative salaries when asked by the Ruidoso News. In fact he got rather huffy about it. If he wants taxpayer money, he should get used to public scrutiny.
I notice that Hubbard and his wife Joan Dale donated $500 to Republican legislator Nora Espinoza's reelection campaign on May 28, 2010. I don't live in Lincoln county, but I shop there occasionally. I don't want any of the money that I pay for a gallon of milk to be donated to my opponent's campaign.
By the way, although Hubbard stated in his interview with the Ruidoso News that he and Joan Dale are Lincoln county residents, the address listed on the financial form along with that donation is 72-980 Fred Waring Dr B, Palm Desert, CA.
So I guess another question would be, how many homes does this millionaire couple own, where are they located, and which one is really their primary residence?
Ellen Wedum
Democratic candidate
NM House District 59
Cloudcroft