Pueblog USa
Sunday, October 05, 2008
Vote No on Ballot Initiative 2B
Many reasons why the the Vendors Fees should not be used for the Convention Center expansion.
Vote no on ballot initiative 2B:
The use of Vendor Fees for Convention Center Expansion
By Ted Freeman and Alvin Rivera
The proponents of the Convention Center have stated that the Vendor Fees are not a new or additional tax. However, what they don’t say is that funding the Convention Center expansion will create a new debt. The Pueblo tax payers already have considerable long term debt: the Harp River Walk, the new Police Station, the new Judicial Building, the new Health Department building, the School bonds, and various Urban Renewal projects. True, these come out of different budgets and different agencies, but they are all funded with Pueblo tax payer dollars.
Let’s be real for a moment. Would you run your household checkbook with this kind of debt? If you did, your home would be in foreclosure! Well, that’s exactly what your city officials, Urban Renewal and the proponents of this measure are asking you to do.
Has the existing facility had a major economic impact on Pueblo? Recent news releases in the Chieftain say that Pueblo is the poorest of the eleven largest counties in Colorado. Did the past performance of the Convention Center make a difference to change this poverty standing? It does not appear so!
The greatest positive economic impact for Pueblo has been all the sports tournaments, the State Fair, Little Britches, car shows, the chile festival, visitors using Pueblo reservoir, etc. These are the type of events the community must continue to support and maintain: not the Convention Center expansion.
The Convention Center expansion has not been justified: The Convention Center’s own literature claims they hosted only 25 conventions during 2007. Further, their reports for 2008 show they only have 12 confirmed events and for 2009 there are only 9 confirmed events with 7 proposals pending. The Urban Renewal Authority claims there is an increasing demand for convention center space: however, their own reports indicate different results.
In addition, the Hunden Report paid for by the Pueblo Urban Renewal Authority and national studies also indicate that both the number of conventions and trade shows and their attendance have been decreasing.
Even with the decline in business the cost of operating the Convention Center continues to increase. For the year 2007, the operating deficit was $500,000 and for the year 2008 the deficit is projected to be $800,000.
The Vendor Fees are committed to paying off the bond debt, operating expenses, and maintenance of the existing Convention Center until the year 2019. Financing for the expansion would include paying interest only until then. This also says that the decision of when to spend the Vendor Fees on potential new projects does not need to be made until 2019.
Conclusion:
How to spend the Vendor Fees should be the choice of the people. There are other CHOICES AND NEEDS in Pueblo besides the need for the Convention Center expansion. It would be interesting if the City Council and the Urban Renewal Authority allowed the electorate to decide how the Vendors Fees should be spent. For example, what about the renovation of Memorial Hall, an indoor aquatic complex, urgent needs for neighborhood community centers around the city, or better funding of selective non-profit organizations? It is suggested that one or a combination of these potential projects would better serve Pueblo than the Convention Center expansion.
Pueblo Citizens for Positive Change (PCPC) opposes this measure because it lacks a positive economic impact and consequently is not in the best interest of the people of Pueblo or their city government. Thus, PCPC recommends a “no vote” on Ballot initiative 2B.
Next entry: Pueblo Citizens for Positive Change(PCPC) meeting Previous entry: No Expansion Without Justification
-
I guess that’s enough reason for them to use the Vendor Fees for the Convention Center expansion. Great article. Thanks.
-M from Mexico
Kohunlich Mayan Ruins on 10/13 at 08:58 PM -
Nice post! Thanks
vev from patio furniture on 10/31 at 08:09 AM -
The renovation of Memorial Hall, an indoor aquatic complex should be priorities and part of the money used for that purpose.
New Fairings on 12/03 at 08:46 AM -
The use of the Vendor Fees will be based on two things happening: 1. The City and the URA are not allowed to lock-up the Vendor Fees for the fouth time for the purpose of expanding the Convention Center. 2. There is an overwhelming puplic support for one of the projects you suggested.
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 12/03 at 09:41 AM