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TUDY: San Luis Project Benefits fi The San Luis Project will hove significant and positive economic and tax revenue benefits in Costilla County. according to a repon prepared for Battle Mountain Gold. The repon was prepared by Planning Information Corporation, a consuhant specializing in socioeconomic impact assessment. The biggest positive impact will be an estimated $2 million a year gamed by San Luis Project workers living in Costilla County. The estimate was based on the San Luis Project employing 90 operuions workers. 75 of whom probably will live in San Luis or elsewhere in Costilla County. The average wage for San Luis Project workers will approximate $?'_.000 a year. "That is a sienific:mt boost to the county's econrnnv. It is equal to almost 20 percent of tha total wages paid in Costilla County in 19X3 by all employers covered by unemployment insurance." said George Blankenship. a principal of Planning Information Corporation. "Some Battle Mountain employees who already live here may earn more than at their previous job+. Some may have been unemployed. The spending which follows greater or new gamines will create jobs for others in the coumy.'~Blankenship said. has Economic and Tax Revenue it Costilla County Battle Mountain will need 90 employ- ees to operate the San Luis Project mine and mill as proposed in the permit amendment under review by the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Division. LOCAL PURCHASES Battle Mountain also will buy from local suppliers: an estimated 5330.000 a year spent in Costilla County for materi- als. eyuipment and supplies. "This is based un the goods ;uxi sen~ices which are ,old in the county now.° Blankenship said. "As business people see what the San Luis Project needs, existing businesses may grow and new businesses may be started." Wages paid to local +vorkcrs plus local purchases by the San Luis Project could create IS to 20 new jobs spread across retail. wholesale, and sen~icc businesses. Blankenship said. The San Luis Project also will pay property taxes, and Bartle Mountain Guld will he the largest taxpayer m Costilla Cuumv, according to estimates in thr repon. Revenues will eo to coumv government. the schools. and other districts where the pro)ect is locatrd. Battle Muumain Gold will pa}' propeny taxes on the assessed value of (rnrrrunu•d frnnr pgCe ! i along with the Colorado Job Service, Rudy Gonzalez, assistant manager. Jerry can be reached at 5X9-5X21 and Rudy can be reached at 539-51 I X. Office hours are X a.m. to 5 p.m.. Monday through Friday. As of publication tune. Rocky Mountain SER and the Colorado Job Service planned to open an office and maintain office hours one day a week in San Luis by January IOjust to handle pre- application for employment at the San Luis Project. Carly priority will be given to Costilla County residents with job skills needed by Battle Mountain Gold. Each applicant will undergo au assessment of academic and work maturity skills. The assessment will be handled by the Learning Opportunity Center at Centennial School in San Luis. Applicants who meet the academic and wort. maturity standards will be included in a pool ul qualified applicants. Referrals will be made Irum this pool by Rocky Moumain SER and the Colorado Jub Service. Applicants needing to upgrade skills max• enroll in the Adult Basic Education program of the Centennial School District under a grant from the Colorado Commu- niq• Colleges ;md Occupational Education System obtained with the support of Battle Mounmin Guld. The Adult Basic Education program is directed b}• Centennial's David Garcia. Permit Amendment. Battle Mountain's proposed permit amendment is scheduled to be heard in late January by the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board. At publication time, the state's mining and reclamation specialists were closely examining the application. improvements and eyuipmen[ and, when production begins, on project proceeds. based upon formulas established by Colo- rado law. Nev+• assessed valuation Frotn the S:tn Luis Project can lead to lower taxes for everyone or to more funds for roads. public safer} and other public uses. depending p,tnly on decisions made by local taxing urisdictions. Blankenship said. PAYING PROPERTI'TAXES Over thr life of the project, Bottle Mountain Guld can be expected to pay a total of almost 52.5 million in propeny taxes, based an 19X3 levies. according to the repon."Tax revenue predictions are tricky because they depend on several factors." Blankenship said. "How much Battle Muun ain will pav in Iaxes will vary based o~ how much gold they produce. the price of gold, what it costs to produce the •vld, and the mill levies set by the taxing authorities." he said. Propem taxes on the San Luis Project will be assessed by Costilla Couniv eo+'emment. the Centennial Schuul District. and the fire protection and water consen ancy districu. Of the property taxes paid b} the San Luis Project. those paid to Cwtilla County govemmem and w the (ire protection and water conservancy districts - an estimated 5767.000 over the life of the pmjcct m 1938 levies -will represent added revenue to those jurisdic- tions. Most ul the taxes paid to the Cemen- niul School District will go to the state school budget equalization fund. The remaining school district taxes will go to a school bond retirement fund. BAtiIE NgUMPJN GIXD CONPPNY Published by Battle Mountain Guld Company P.O. Boa 310. San Luis. CO S 115? (719)67_'-3362 Gaq• Dodson General Sr perintendent. San Luis Project