El Paso rep questions city’s role in Mexican American Cultural Center
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One El Paso city representative is questioning the city’s role in the future of El Paso’s Mexican American Cultural Center.
In 2012, voters approved about $6 million in quality-of-life bond money to build the center. But the city learned that amount would not be enough. That led to a plan to retrofit the Abraham Chavez theater in downtown El Paso to house the center. That price tag is now about $35 million.
In January 2016, the nonprofit group Mexican American Cultural Institute, or MACI, pledged to raise $20 million for the project. But at a June Bond Oversight Advisory Committee meeting city staff reported the group has only raised about $15,000.
“The most recent actuals that were submitted to us stated that there was $130 in cash that they had on hand at the time. And then we were advised by email without backup that currently as of May 19, 2017 that they have cash on hand of $3,250.30,” said Tracey Jerome, the director of Museums and Cultural Affairs.
Documentation provided to city showed, MACI’s deficit has increased by 35 percent over the last two fiscal years.
In 2016, the group’s deficit was reportedly $27,472 and in 2017 it was $37,105.
Previous Mayor Oscar Leeser and the council pledged an additional $10 million for the center that was supposed to come from savings. But Ben Fyffe, the assistant director of Museums and Cultural affairs said at a June Bond Oversight Advisory Committee it’s not clear where the money will come from.
City Rep. Cassandra Rodriguez-Brown has placed the Mexican American Cultural Center on the agenda for Tuesday’s City Council meeting. She wants to see a project update and explanation of the city’s role and financial obligation.
During an ABC 7 “Sunday Xtra” show, MACI representatives said the group was no longer operating in the red, but did not provide any financial details. The group is working on a $10 million contribution, but it is not clear if that money would be a donation or loan.
Once the center is built, experts predict the city’s financial role will be far from over.
“At this point there have been two studies by two different consultants on this project. Both of them came back with an operational outlook that would include a 50 percent subsidy by the city to make the center work,” said Fyffe.
City staff said there is no deadline for construction of the center. The city has hired a consultant to help the group with fundraising.
