There may not be an Astrodome-related bond referendum on the ballot this year.
Still cheaper to renovate than the real thing
The last day Commissioners Court can place a referendum on the November ballot is Aug. 20, according to county attorneys. The court’s Tuesday meeting was its last scheduled before that date, and no mention of the Dome was on the agenda.
“The economic situation is just not favorable at this time to be able to step in and get people to invest big money,” Precinct 3 Commissioner Steve Radack said. “I don’t think there’s a quick fix for our economy, and I don’t think there’s a quick fix for the Dome.”
[…]
Putting a big bond vote before voters could put the county in an even bigger debt hole than it is now, said Precinct 1 Commissioner El Franco Lee. Precinct 4 Commissioner Jack Cagle agreed, noting that $3 million to $4 million in annual maintenance is far easier to pay than the $30 million in annual debt service that would be required under the May proposal.
“If you jump into what any one of these things (the report) suggests, you’re talking about some extreme costs,” Lee said. “We should go on the ballot when we’re ready and have something to tell the public that we’re going to do.”
County Judge Ed Emmett, who said in early 2011 and earlier this year the court should decide on the Dome “this year,” agreed.
“There’s not the perfect thing to put on the ballot,” he said. “We do have to come up with an answer. I know I’ve been saying that, but the Dome just cannot sit there like a rusting ship forever in that parking lot. I’d like to get something on (the ballot) in May, but I’m one of five.”
See here and here for recent updates, and here for even more. I’m fine with putting off a vote till 2013. We have plenty of other things on the ballot this year. I have no strong preference for May or November of 2013 as the target date. Let’s just agree that we want to get this done and works towards that.
Pingback: No Dome referendum yet – Off the Kuff