ALBUQUERQUE MAYOR TIM KELLER ISN’T THE ONLY PERSON OPPOSED TO PUTTING AN ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX AT MONTANO AND I-25. HE VETOED THE PROPOSAL . NOW, ALBUQUERQUE’S RIO GRANDE FOUNDATION HAS COME OUT IN OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSAL FOR TOPGOLF AS WELL … BUT THAT DIDN’T STOP THE CITY COUNCIL FROM VOTING TO APPROVE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PACKAGE FOR TOPGOLF ON MONDAY NIGHT .
FOUNDATION PRESIDENT PAUL GESSING SAYS THE PACKAGE INCLUDES 400-THOUSAND DOLLARS IN GENERAL FUND MONEY, JUST AS A COUNCIL-APPROVED TAX HIKE IS ABOUT TO GO INTO EFFECT. HE SAYS THE CITY SUPPOSEDLY DIDN’T HAVE ENOUGH FOR BASIC POLICE SERVICES, BUT THE CITY IS NOW WE’RE USING 400-THOUSAND DOLLARS ON A GOLF COMPANY.
GESSING SAYS THE FOUNDATON ALSO HAS ISSUES WITH THE CITY REIMBURSING TOPGOLF UP TO 1.8 MILLION DOLLARS IN GROSS RECEIPTS TAXES.
MAYOR KELLER IS AGAINST THE PACKAGE BECAUSE HE HAS CONCERNS ABOUT THE LOW LEVEL JOBS IT’LL PROVIDE AND THINKS THE I-25 AND MONTANO LOCATION HAS LIMITED POTENTIAL FOR GROWTH.
