Commissioners Approve $73M In Bonds For Facility Improvements

EL PASO, TX. – County commissioners have approved issuing $73 million dollars in bonds without voter approval, but not without discussion and opposition.

Commissioners voted 3-to-2, with County Judge Anthony Cobos and Commissioner Dan Haggerty voting against it. The bond will pay for improvements to a number of facilities, including the county courthouse to the tune of more than$5 million dollars.

The sheriff’s department will receive $4 million for upgrades to its facilities. The big winner is the County Park System, including Ascarate and the East side Sportspark, which will receive $19 million dollars for improvements.

“Part of the challenge that we have is that we’re a growing county, a growing community, our facilities are agingC” saidCounty Commissioner, Veronica Escobar.

“C-O bondsI believe philosophically with the judge, that they should go out to voter approval. Having said that, there are certain bonds we are issuing that are really, really necessary and required,” added CommissionerHaggerty.

County officials say the improvements come without a tax increase at this point since the county’s bond rating is so solid it is able to borrow this type of money.

— Edited for the web by Miguel Martinez