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EC Council approves next step for bond El Campo City Council took another step toward borrowing $1.65 million for assorted building renovations last week - declaring the Certificates of Obligation would be formalized next month. The non-voter approved bond won't affect the city of El Campo tax rate this fiscal year which officially got under way Monday. The bond dollars will be supplemented with $1.25 million in fund balance dollars - for a total $2.9 million project. The bulk of that funding - slightly more than $1 million - is designated for a major revamp of the El Campo Civic Center, originally a K-Mart retail center when it opened in 1979. The building's roof, air-conditioning units and floor tile are original to the retail center although interior spaces were redesigned when the community center opened in 1989. The facility will be closed August through October of next year to allow for the construction to take place. In addition to basic work, the city will expand women's restroom facilities to comply with occupancy load laws - staff recently discovered the Civic Center should have at least 14 more women's stalls. Additional entrance and exit doors are also being examined as partitions to further divide the main auditorium when needed. A new fire pumper truck will consume $590,000 of funds. It is tentatively scheduled for delivery in January and will likely be paid for out of the fund balance portion of the package. Renovations to the El Campo Police Department and EMS building is expected to cost $572,000. A new sally port, expanded jail and dispatch area and more office space is in the plans for the revamp of the 1974 building. Structural issues will also be addressed. The remaining $721,000 of the project is designated...
El Campo taxpayers will see the effect of the COs on their bills starting in the fiscal year 2008-2009. The COs will be made official during the Nov. 13 City Council meeting. CITY PLAN The $1.65 million in bond dollars will be linked with $1.25 million in fund balance to pay for the projects ranging from a major Civic Center renovation to new fire truck. IN THE PLAN: The bulk of funding in the city's $2.9 million improvement plan will be dedicated to the El Campo Civic Center where major work will take place next year. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
