On Wednesday, the Lubbock County Expo Center Steering Committee announced a possible location and a potential price tag for a new dirt floor facility. Other questions, however, have yet to be answered as voters head to the polls on November 6 to decide yes or no concerning proposition A.
If approved, the proposition would raise the hotel/motel tax by 2 percent in Lubbock County. An estimated $2.6 million per year could then go toward an expo center at North University Avenue and Loop 289 (near X-Fab).
The cost is estimated at up to $50 million.
Related Story: Location and other details revealed for proposed expo center
If voters approve, how do voters hold people accountable because the steering committee promised no governmental control?
Tim Collins, who is a member of the steering committee, said some questions have not been resolved yet. The steering committee has created a 501c3 nonprofit organization.
As just one example, would bids to construct the facility need to be public just like a city or county project?
“I don’t think it has to be bid publicly. State standards don’t necessarily require that,” Collins said. “Nonprofits have more leeway in their bidding process.”
“However, we would want a thorough bid process that taxpayers deserve,” Collins said.
Collins said if the proposition passes, the Lubbock County Commissioners would negotiate a contract with the 501c3 to manage the facility. The contract could have requirements for accountability, such as audits of how the money is spent.
“I assume, there will be responsibilities placed on the nonprofit to make sure it does operate correctly,” Collins said.
Who decides the size of the facility and what events are held?
“The nonprofit board will make those decisions,” Collins said.
Who gets to be on the nonprofit board?
“A collective group of county citizens will be on that board,” Collins said. “I think the county commissioners will have some engagement in those appointments to the board.”
In simple terms, the issue is yet to be decided. It would be in the contract.
“County commissioners could reopen the contract,” Collins said. “I feel like it can be written into the contract so that county commissioners, who are accountable to the taxpayers, can make sure it is run right.”
Collins said other public/private partnerships can serve as an example of how the money is overseen.
“There are examples of how public private partnerships have been done before. There’s going to be some best practices out there to work through it,” Collins said.
The hotel/motel tax money in this case must stay with the expo center. It cannot be diverted to other county funds, like the sheriff’s office or county roads, Collins said.
“As a participant in this, I want everyone to be comfortable that we’re doing it right,” Collins said.
Early voting starts on October 22. Election day is November 6.