New Mexico's Spaceport America is estimated to cost $198 million to build according to a report by US company DMJM: AECOM, the design and engineering firm hired by the state's Spaceport Authority (NMSA).
The almost $200 million price tag was announced on 21 March by New Mexico cabinet secretary for economic development Rick Homans after its approval by the NMSA's board, which he chairs. The spaceport will be located 72km (45 miles) north of the state's city of Las Cruces.
A cost estimate below $225 million was one of three conditions required by state legislation before the local government releases $100 million in construction funding. The other two are a spaceport licence provided by the US Federal Aviation Administration, expected by the end of the year or beginning of 2008, and the signing of an anchor tenant agreement. This is expected to be with Virgin Galactic later this year.
The spaceport construction costs will be covered by $115 million already appropriated by the state, including that $100 million of construction funds; $25 million in local government road building spending; $25 million in federal government funding over five years; and an expected $58 million from local option gross receipts taxes from the New Mexican counties of Dona Ana, Otero and Sierra.
Of that $58 million, $49 million is expected from Dona Ana, $6.6 million from Otero and $2.3 million from Sierra. On 3 April referendums on the issue of raising counties' gross receipts taxes to generate the revenue will take place in of Dona Ana, Otero and Sierra. Without a yes vote in Dona Ana the project will have to stop.
The almost $200 million price tag was announced on 21 March by New Mexico cabinet secretary for economic development Rick Homans after its approval by the NMSA's board, which he chairs. The spaceport will be located 72km (45 miles) north of the state's city of Las Cruces.
A cost estimate below $225 million was one of three conditions required by state legislation before the local government releases $100 million in construction funding. The other two are a spaceport licence provided by the US Federal Aviation Administration, expected by the end of the year or beginning of 2008, and the signing of an anchor tenant agreement. This is expected to be with Virgin Galactic later this year.
The spaceport construction costs will be covered by $115 million already appropriated by the state, including that $100 million of construction funds; $25 million in local government road building spending; $25 million in federal government funding over five years; and an expected $58 million from local option gross receipts taxes from the New Mexican counties of Dona Ana, Otero and Sierra.
Of that $58 million, $49 million is expected from Dona Ana, $6.6 million from Otero and $2.3 million from Sierra. On 3 April referendums on the issue of raising counties' gross receipts taxes to generate the revenue will take place in of Dona Ana, Otero and Sierra. Without a yes vote in Dona Ana the project will have to stop.
| Line item |
Construction Package |
Base estimate $ (millions) |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Airfield and apron |
40.17 |
|
2 |
Hangar/terminal |
30.76 |
|
3 |
Buildings and facilities |
6.95 |
|
4 |
Roads - internal and construction |
8.15 |
|
5 |
Roads - permanent access |
43.82 |
|
6 |
Utilities - horizontal and campus |
48.03 |
|
7 |
Utilities - vertical area |
6.88 |
|
8 |
Construction support services |
8.28 |
|
9 |
Welcome centre infrastructure |
1 |
|
|
Total construction cost estimate |
194.04 |
|
|
Programme costs incurred to date |
3.96 |
|
|
Total programme costs and budget |
198 |
Source: FlightGlobal.com
