Council approves taking on non-voter approved debt to pay for quality of life projects

El Paso City Council unanimously voted Tuesday to change how quality of life bond projects, like the West Side pool complex and the Mexican-American Cultural Center, can be paid for.

Voters approved borrowing more than $473-million for these projects when they approved the bonds back in 2012.

The city can now issue non-voter approved debt, or certificates of obligation, to pay for the projects officials say are underfunded.

“So these would be new projects that maybe need a little extra funding to complete them. For instance, the westside pool is one those that needs a little bit extra to complete it and this would give the city council the authoritity to include in certificates of obligation that little bit of extra funding that is needed. “

Back in March 2017, then mayor Oscar Leeser veteoed the use of certificates of obligation to pay for quality of life projects.

Leeser, who believed any extra funds should be approved by voters, said the move would be reversing a long standing policy.

City Manager Tommy Gonzalez has said the original budget of about $8 million for the west side pool project was off target.

After delays and a budget that almost doubled over the last four years, construction on the west side pool is underway.

The Mexican-American Cultural Center is another quality of life project officals say is underfunded. Voters approved about $6-million for the project, the price tag now stands at $35 million.

City Rep. Cassandra Hernandez-Brown voted to approve the item, but she wants council and staff to meet and discuss the process before spending any more money.

“If there is a certificate of obligation that is presented before we have that committee meeting, before we have a discussion on the abuse or future abuse, or without having that dialogue, then I will be critical,” Hernandez-Brown said.

“This kind of worries me a little bit. I feel like putting quality of life bonds and co’s this way. It seems a little deceptive. I have heard from members of the communtiy who are saying you now if we are putting a number of quality of life bonds, what’s stopping us from increasing that immediately,” City Rep. Alexandra Annello said.