Albuquerque Journal from Albuquerque, New Mexico • Page 6

A6 ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL Thursday, February 3, 1994 Balloon Fiesta Bill Wins Senate Panel's Approval 1 ers are skeptical about addressing problems in Albuquerque with state resources. "It always amazes me how the imperial city comes to the Legislature to fix their bridges and their roads and their sewers, and: now they're coming for all the cut 4 tural refinement and entertainment things," said Sen. Billy McK-' fc 'i ibben, R-Hobbs, Senate minority. gage payments, payroll, insurance, and utility bills. $432,000 for the cost of the sales items, such as T-shirts, caps and calendars.

$411,100 for sponsor expenses such as banners, jackets, printing and the sponsor party. $375,650 for pilot operations, including hotel rooms for those flying sponsorship banners, a $100-a-pilot travel expense, propane and insurance. $288,000 for event expenses such as field entertainment, phones, radios, fireworks, parades and a nearly $50,000 payment to the Kiwanis and Civitan clubs to direct parking and sell tickets. Though use of the park is provided free through 1996, the cost of preparing the site and renting nearby land for parking floor leader. -7 McKibben argues that the monkey shouldn't go to Albuquerque JOURNAL FILE PHOTO The burned Camaro In which the body tentatively Identified as Jonathan Francia was found was taken to an impound lot In Holbrook, Ariz.

FBI Captures Francia Suspect for the balloon fiesta when seveiv, al New Mexico communities have, pressing needs for schools and roads. "I think a city that size expert; encing the economic boom they' have right now ought to look at; some other sources of revenue', and those who come and enjoy the' balloons ought to be the McKibben said. But the Senate Public Affairs' Committee on Wednesday unani- mously endorsed the $5.8 million appropriation for the land after' Robinson testified that any delay; might jeopardize the ability to buy the property. "We are now facing the possibility this land will be purchased (by other parties). This is now becoming a closing window," Robinson said.

Senators on the committee agreed that the fiesta is good for the state because tourists end up visiting other parts of New Mexico. Rick Homans, who led the may- i Indian Wells I ARIZONA Jl map 1 Qsl Burned I Camaro and sV body found frk. near Castle Ov Butte CON riNUED FROM PAGE A1 4 "That is not money in our banking account. We need other financial help, and if we don't get it, yes, the fiesta is in trouble." Incorporated in 1976, Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Inc. took over from founder Sid Cutter, who ran the fledgling event the previous four years.

A 30-member, nonpaid board of directors sets policy and adopts the annual budget, which has topped $2 million the past several years. The corporation used small offices at several places before building a office just east of the balloon park about seven years ago. Mortgage payments are $2,782 a month, according to a fiesta 1992 financial statement. The note balance is due in 1998. Financial statements and IRS tax returns for 1988 through 1992 show steady budget growth.

Income exceeded expenditures by $19,564 in 1988. That figure rose to $137,880 in 1992. Attendance doubled during that time, rising from 750,000 to 1.5 million. Board president Frank Mezzan-cello said profits are kept as reserves. "You can remember the year it snowed a couple of days.

That was a crippling year," he said. "We need some money to start the new year with." He said this'week that the corporation believes it could commit up to $250,000 of those reserve funds toward buying the land. The fiesta's 1992 financial statement, the latest available, shows income of $2.75 million and expenses of $2.61 million. The cash balance at the end of 1992 was $408,235. According to the statement, the major revenue sources that year were: Nearly $600,000 for sponsorship packages, ranging from $1,500 for balloons to the $20,000 to $50,000 event sponsorships.

$477,000 in admissions, which are $3 for adults, and $145,000 in concessions. $900,000 in sale of official fiesta merchandise special-event items, posters, calendars, videos, programs and caps. Major expenses for 1992 includ An Albuquerque woman picked both Richardson and Jason out of an FBI lineup as the men who had tried to steal her car at gunpoint shortly before Francia disappeared from a University-area restaurant. Jason is still at large, Callahan said. He is described as about 6 feet tall, in his mid-20s, with shoulder-length dishwater blond hair.

"We're still investigating that. He could be alive. He could be dead. He could not exist," Callahan said. For now, Lawrence Francia said he and his family will "keep waiting and praying because praying was the only thing that got this guy, that and the FBI," CONTINUED FROM PAGE A1 media reports," Beldon said.

Callahan said he believed it was a woman who spotted Richardson driving a green pickup that he drove south of Winslow and abandoned, fleeing across the high desert mesas on foot. Richardson was found a few miles from the Lyons' ranch. Richardson's bride of less than a month, Trena Richardson, lives with her parents, Frank and Shirley Lyon, about 20 miles south of Winslow. The Lyons and Trena Richardson have told the Journal they were living in fear that Richardson would return to kill them after they told authorities that he had confessed to kidnapping and stabbing Jonathan Francia to death near their home. Beldon said Richardson will be held in the Coconino County Jail in Flagstaff, and he will make an initial appearance before a federal judge on charges of carjacking, kidnap- ping and transporting a stolen vehi- across state lines.

Beldon said if murder charges are brought against Richardson, they will be filed in state court in I Lvons (99) A Holbrook I I Paul f) Richardson approached $261,000. $202,000 for salaries. There are eight salaried staff members seven work full time and the other works about eight months of the year. Ruppenthal makes $46,350. Ruppenthal and other fiesta officials refused to disclose what the other staff members are paid.

Ruppenthal reluctantly released her salary, which wasn't shown on the corporation's IRS Form 990 tax returns as required for key employees. Mezzancello said amended forms will be filed. The city provides the balloon park and traffic control for free. The city estimates time and equipment cost about $16,000 last year. Ruppenthal said as many as another 1,500 people annually volunteer their services, not including volunteer chase crews.

"This corporation simply could not function without volunteers, because we couldn't afford to pay that many people," she said. Fiesta officials say they have tried other avenues to raise money for the land, but without success. In 1989, for instance, they approached Fortune 500 sponsors to buy land west of the balloon field and lease it back in exchange for naming the event after the corporation. That didn't work. Kodak did sign a contract to be the title sponsor, but the fiesta would not divulge how much Kodak is contributing.

Despite the fiesta's claims that I police BILL GERHOLD JOURNAL Police are still searching for another man they believe was involved in Francia's abduction. The Lyons said Richardson told them he met a man named Jason on a bus trip from Alabama and he and Jason abducted and killed Francia. Francia said. "The FBI really stayed on this case. "There's still another person out there, this Jason guy," Francia said, adding that the FBI told him they were pursuing some leads on him.

Rival Health Plan Wins More Support purchase, said the balloon fiesta is "clearly the state's signature." event." "San Francisco has the Golden Gate bridge, St. Louis has the arch, and New Mexico has the balloon fiesta," Homans said. The bill next goes to another Senate committee before heading to the full Senate and then the House. Fiesta officials say the need to 4 expand is becoming urgent. The fiesta has had to limit bal-: loon entries to 650 the past two years, Ruppenthal said.

"We've got a concessions wait- ing list a mile long, and we don't have any room for it," she said. "It affects everything." tion and price controls" in the White House bill. Cooper, whose bill eschews a mandate on employers to pay for health insurance, called it "a strong boost for our bill." "We already had a lot of small businesses on our side. Now with big businesses endorsing it, we have a stronger hand," said Cooper Rodham Clinton had gone to extraordinary lengths to try to head off the Business Roundtable vote in favor of the managed competition bill sponsored by Rep. Jim Cooper, and Sen.

John Breaux, and others. BF Goodrich Chairman John Ong said the Cooper bill was "built around market mechanisms" as opposed to the "government regula By Christopher Connell THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON In a rebuff to the White House, a major business group supported a rival health-care plan Wednesday as the "starting point" for reform. It said President Clinton's approach was too regulatory and relied on "price controls. President Clinton and Hillary ed: $626,700 for administration, which included accounting and the event brings nearly $75 million a year into the economy and generates $4 million in state and local tax revenues, some lawmak legal fees, office expenses, mort 16) jf i Id 7 m. Straight From fS 0 Send a special message this year in the Journal Tribune Love Lines section, published on February 14.

It's a great 4 2j way to tell that someone special you care. And, you can win one of these great prizes described here! Try your hand or call for help. Our classified staff is ready to assist. This year, play cupid and shoot straight from the heart. Winners are selected on the basis of most innovative ad.

823-4444 Save A W. 1rcetini $50 off senice. Anil $50 off epipenL Start 1 994 with the latest in cellular phones and quality service from Bell Atlantic Mobile. Plus save 1 00, because we've extended our special holiday offer through February 28. So if you didn't get what you really wanted this holiday, now's the time to shop Bell Atlantic Mobile.

And save $100: $50 off cellular service when you activate new service with an annual agreement. And $50 off any cellular phone in wwmiiiuh iiiuuuQ wiajjNicvj vc.vsj jjci hiic, imea iviiiiiiiiuui. Please print your ad clearly to insure accuracy. Write approximately 30 letters and spaces per line. Deadline to place your ad is noon Thursday, February 1 0, 1 994 I'd like the Love Lines to read as follows: stock.

For details, visit one of our stores. Or give us a ring at 505-266-9000. lines at $2.85 per line 5.81 tax. Total 4 Albuquerque: 146 Quincy NE Cellular systems supplied by Motorola. Bell Atlantic Mobile Check Money Order Visa MasterCard Phone( Credit Card Exp.

Date i Signature. Name Street. State. Zip. to MAIL COUPON Tt): ALBUQUERQUE PUBLISHING CO.

P.0 DRAWER J-T ALBUQUERQUE, NM 87103 OR CALL 823-4444 ALBUQUERQUE IOURNAL "$50.00 service credit deducted from first monthly bill and $50.00 credit toward cellular equipment applied at time of purchase upon approved credit with new cellular service activation and an annual agreement. $200 early termination fee applies to the annual service agreement. 'fer available with new servfr? on any current published rate plan except the AsBurance Plan. Offer extended through'February28, 1 994. I.