ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — For now, plans for a proposed UFO-themed amusement park in Roswell have been sucked into a black hole.

The project is going nowhere after state officials withdrew a $245,000 legislative appropriation intended for initial planning, saying that the outlay would have violated New Mexico's anti-donation clause.

Under state law, New Mexico cannot donate to private individuals or entities.

The money had been designated for Roswell city government. But because city officials never intended to run the park, the state Department of Finance and Administration determined the appropriation was illegal.

"We were headed down the road and DFA told us we couldn't go there," City Manager John Capps said last week. "The money is not necessarily lost, but as appropriated it could not be used for the purpose we intended."

Capps said the city might ask lawmakers for another appropriation next year, but that decision would have to be made by city councilors.

City officials have been looking for ways to boost tourism from the town's ties to the Roswell Incident, a supposed UFO crash on an area ranch in 1947. Military officials later said recovered debris came from a weather balloon.

Mayor Sam LaGrone said city officials still support the UFO theme park, but Capps said it cannot move forward unless a private investor such as an amusement park company shows interest.