Wednesday, October 6, 2021

STARTING OCT. 18, A CHANCE TO BOOST CAMERON COUNTY

 Special to El Rrun-Rrun

Starting this October 18, residents across the state have had the chance to cast their votes for or against eight state propositions dealing with everything from the eligibility of state judges, helping surviving spouses of fallen soldiers with property taxes, and to prohibit the state from infringing on the right of Texans to worship, among others.

October 18 signaled the start of early voting for the Nov. 2 constitutional amendments election. Early voting ends October 29. 

But it is on the second page of the ballot where the voters of Cameron County will have an opportunity to vote on Proposition A that – if passed – will allow the county to issue bonds to build a long-desired multi-purpose arena and convention center that is projected to generate an annual impact of almost $4 million to communities and workers in the local economy.

And all this without increasing property or personal taxes on Cameron County residents and will be paid through revenues generated by visitors to the events at the arena. County officials say it is a golden opportunity that will create jobs, increase county-tax revenue, and bring visitors to the area. 

The proposition that will be on the November 2 ballot states that funding for the project will be financed through bonds issued by Cameron County to be paid by funds generated from the hotel-motel occupancy tax and rental car fees paid by visitors to the center.

In other words, it will cost county taxpayers nothing for the renovation, planning, acquisition, development, construction, equipment, and expansion of a multi-purpose arena and convention center and any related infrastructure for the project.


The proposition that will be on the November 2 ballot states that funding for the project will be financed through bonds issued by Cameron County to be paid by the revenue generated from the hotel-motel occupancy tax and rental car fees paid by visitors to the center.

It's not a new thing for Cameron County. We've done this before with remarkable success.

The South Texas Eco-Tourism Center at Laguna Vista was funded through a venue tax (Visitors tax) proposition as was Cameron County's Amphitheater and Events Center at South Padre Island.

A feasibility study was completed on the project that analyzed all the relevant factors and its impact on all of Cameron County and communities within a 50-mile radius of the project.

It is to be located near the intersection of Expressway 77-83 and Texas Highway 100.  

Other communities across the state, notably San Antonio, has used this funding method to construct major arenas, including the AT&T Center, home of the San Antonio Spurs. 

Although not as large, the Cameron County arena/convention center will have a capacity of between 8,000 to 10,000.

In San Antonio its arena was opened in 2002 as the SBC Center (later the AT & T Arena), was also funded by a hotel-occupancy and car-rental tax increase and an additional contribution of $28.5 million from the San Antonio Spurs. 

Bexar County voters approved the plan in November 1999.

We have a chance to do the same thing for Cameron County to build the Multi-Purpose Arena and Convention Center and provide opportunities to our neighbors. Why not us? Why not here?

And all we have to do is darken the "For" oval on the ballot starting Tuesday, October 18.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

So just raise the hotel rates to make the place less attractive to visitors? Why is it always "free" and some taxes go up somewhere?

Anonymous said...

Every thing that includes funding by some other gimmic has always been a golden opportunity that will create jobs, increase county-tax revenue and "BRING VISITORS TO THE AREA", I think I've heard this one before and who the shit wants to come here anyway. Opportunity like say the bridge to no-where, the generator at pub and many other quick thinking gimmics that los pendejos at city and county and even sometimes BISD think of at
re-elect-me time.

The cities that deserve one have one, here this city needs to think of repairs repairs and more repairs before visitors of any kind visit this place.

PINCHES PENDEJOS THINK REPAIRS FIRST THAN BRING IN RECREATION
(and hire a real airport director not a leasing agent)

Before any of these things are done hire a real city manager, a real airport director, a real traffic engineer and a real mayor - of course.

Anonymous said...

RNC opens Hispanic community center in McAllen
What a mistake the coco city of mcallen is full of mojados that don't vote where did they get their info from I know not from trump he hates rapist.

Anonymous said...

RNC co-chair Tommy Hicks Jr. was on hand to inaugurate the new Republican base, the first RNC office in the Rio Grande Valley.

The story that was circulated was that they were giving away free groceries so a bunch of mojados showed up. nothing new here, racist republican known tactics.

Main speaker was the well known rat fink hillbilly coco wanna be white idiota he stopped short of talking somebody hid the mike. IDIOTA!

Anonymous said...

BPUB celebrates Public Power Month

Celebrate it by turning PUB electricity off for a whole day (Oct. 3-9),maybe they will get the message

Anonymous said...

Don’t turn off the electricity. BPUB will raise our rates again. They have to pay for the new palace. Where is the Tenaska Money????????Btw…the County will not raise property taxes. They will tell CCAD to raise appraisals and “voila” that will cover the unattainable 4 million dollars income the county thinks they will generate. Why do you think they are raising property appraisals every year???? To Cover all of the money the bridges are not generating since the pandemic. Cameron County officials need to learn how to live within their means just like every one else.

Anonymous said...

Who benefits from this venture? The people? Really?
What people? The "powers that be" and local politicians.
Is this the new business venture Eddie Lucio, the turd) is
thinking about when announcing he will not run for reelection.
Who know Eddie, Sr. may also announce and become part of the investment
cartel in Brownsville.

Anonymous said...

Vote no.
You need to Fix streets, better water quality, sewage, drainage, electric system.

Anonymous said...

Mexicans don't care about sports. Arena will be useless here.

We needs shade awnings for lining up at the food stamps office!

Anonymous said...

Noooooo!!! we already did this, we built an area the Brownsville Sports Park and it is never full. We do not need another sports park

Anonymous said...



Puras mentiras. Voten EN CONTRA.

Anonymous said...

If it will generate so much money why won't private investors do it?

Anonymous said...

Pinche mamon con un blue suit idiota guey!

Anonymous said...



German tourists, British tourists, Spaniards, Japanese, Arabs ...all will come to the Valley to visit this arena.

The City will go and present this arena all over the world and visitors will come.


People from San Antonio, Houston, Dallas...will be here to enjoy the arena...they are tired and bored with their arenas/convention centers.

This is a great idea.

Anonymous said...

San Antonio is way bigger than Cameron County. So it was a good way for them to get monies to built a stadium. But if it isn't going to cost taxpayers for an arena, then go for it. Don't stop Brownsville from advancing! De por si, Brownsville is boring as hell. At least we can have some great concerts there.
Besides the money is not for repairs. WAIT for the repuglicans to approve biden's infrastructure bill to pass.

rita