N.M. gov. friend may benefit from new law (Bill Richardson)

Bakersfield Californian ^ | 7/7/05 | Deborah Baker - AP

[NormsRevenge]

SANTA FE (AP) - Businessman Gerald Peters, a friend and campaign contributor to Gov. Bill Richardson, has bought a ranch near Chama that could benefit from a tax break for private hunting resorts that the governor signed into law this year.

Peters purchased the 12,463-acre Quinlan Ranch for $14 million, according to documents filed three weeks ago in Rio Arriba County. The ranch is in prime elk country near another ranch in which he owns an interest, according to a spokeswoman for Peters, whose holdings include art galleries, restaurants and commercial property.

"It's just a beautiful area he's loved and appreciated ... for probably the last 25 or more years," Denise Greenlaw Ramonas said Thursday.

When the opportunity arose to buy it from the family that had owned it for nearly a century, "he was delighted to be able to acquire it," Ramonas said.

The new law exempts private hunting resorts from being taxed at commercial rates, ensuring that they will be treated instead as agricultural property.

The change in law was sought by the Jicarilla Apache Nation, after Rio Arriba County assessed the tribe's 32,000-acre Lodge at Chama resort - a premier elk hunting destination - at commercial rates and the tribe lost its appeal in state courts.

When the bill was being considered by lawmakers there was no mention of Peters' plans to buy the Quinlan Ranch, although the documents indicate there was a sales agreement dated March 4 and the bill's final passage was March 17.

Peters is a major contributor to the Democratic governor, who has appointed him to the state Board of Finance - he's no longer a member - and other committees. Peters contributed $137,500, including use of his jet, to Richardson's 2002 election.

Richardson spokesman Billy Sparks said the governor had "absolutely no knowledge" of the Peters purchase when the bill was pending.

"The purchase was never brought up at any time during discussions related to the passage or the signing of the bill," Sparks said.

A couple of registered lobbyists for Peters' Circle P Investments of New Mexico - which is working with Jemez Pueblo to get an off-reservation casino in southern New Mexico - also lobbied this year for the Jicarillas. Ramonas contended Peters never told them, or paid them, to get the elk bill through the Legislature.

"I think he would have bought (the ranch) regardless," she said.

Ramonas said Peters plans to "maintain the wilderness character and preserve the elk habitat on the property."

He is exploring the possibility of selling membership interests to other investors, but is "not subdividing or creating ranchettes," she also said.

Rio Arriba County Deputy Assessor Ron Smith said he was unaware of the planned Peters purchase when he fought the bill in the Legislature.

"None of us foresaw this happening. It makes you believe somebody put considerable thought into this and had some ulterior motives when the legislation was passed," Smith said.

The county had never sought to tax the Quinlan Ranch as commercial property. The new law ensures that it couldn't. The ranch would retain its agricultural classification - which means a lower tax rate - even if it were operated as more of a commercial hunting or recreation enterprise.

"The potential benefit is there" from the new law, Smith said.

The new law does, however, provide that captive elk on game parks will be taxed for the first time, at the same rate as cattle. Smith said that would increase the taxes currently paid on the Quinlan property, but he didn't know by how much.

The ranch, which doesn't have a lodge or other guest amenities, paid $628 in property taxes last year.

According to the Department of Game and Fish, the Quinlan Ranch gets 40 permits for hunting mature bull elk, 15 for hunting mature bull elk with a bow, and 25 permits for hunting antlerless elk - the third-largest number of permits for ranches in the department's north-central Unit 4.

Smith said the ranch offers "world class trophy hunting experiences," much like the Lodge at Chama resort.

Michael Quinlan of Golden, Colo., one of the sellers, said the ranch had been in the family since 1910. He wouldn't discuss the sale further, saying it was "a private transaction."

According to documents filed with the county, Peters and his wife, Kathleen, agreed to pay for the ranch in four installments of $3.5 million, on Feb. 1 of 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.

The Quinlan Ranch is west of Chama and adjacent to the state-owned Edward Sargent Wildlife Management Area.

[martin_fierro]

[Parley Baer]

Let's see now. Tax Brake. Hunting reserve. Hmmmm I fail to see the problem. Sounds good to me.

[henderson field]

There's nothing wrong with taxing that as agricultural land. It will keep it out of the hands of developers and will keep demand loads on water very low. In my opinion, the property tax should be zero, along with everyone else's. Property taxes of any kind are a public menace.