{"id":73030,"date":"2025-12-02T16:39:16","date_gmt":"2025-12-02T16:39:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/73030\/"},"modified":"2025-12-02T16:39:16","modified_gmt":"2025-12-02T16:39:16","slug":"expo-centers-future-makes-two-pit-stops-this-month-both-in-front-of-county-oversight-board","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/73030\/","title":{"rendered":"Expo Center\u2019s future makes two pit stops this month \u2013 both in front of county oversight board"},"content":{"rendered":"

County Commissioners might get a recommendation this month to go forward with a plan for the proposed Lubbock County Expo Center at North Loop 289 and North University Avenue.<\/p>\n

The county\u2019s oversight board for this issue, the Local Government Corporation (LGC), meets twice. The first of the two<\/a> meetings \u2013 Wednesday \u2013 is for the LGC to ask questions about the county issuing bonds for an estimated $32 million of debt. The second \u2013 December 10 \u2013 is to debate and vote on what to recommend.<\/p>\n

County Commissioners have the final say.<\/p>\n

A non-profit group called the Lubbock County Expo Center Inc. (LCEC) has been raising private donations and doing much of the leg work. LCEC presented its $67 million plan to LGC on November 13, which LubbockLights.com covered here<\/a>. <\/p>\n

The county would chip in $10 million that is already set aside and then issue bonds (debt) for another $32 million. LCEC would make up the difference with private donations, naming rights, a percentage of on-site merchandise sales, parking fees and other revenue sources.<\/p>\n

The presentation led to several tense moments \u2013 with some members of LGC feeling like they had been excluded from important information. The meeting on Wednesday will give LGC members a chance to ask questions of the county\u2019s \u201cbond counsel\u201d \u2013 specialized lawyers who deal with government bonds.<\/p>\n

Money collected and spent so far<\/p>\n

In 2018, voters approved a hotel tax to pay for a multipurpose venue. At the end of the 2024\/25 fiscal year, official records showed the county collected just a touch more than $22 million and spent roughly $7.9 million.<\/p>\n

The balance at that time was $14.1 million.<\/p>\n

(Click here to see<\/a> the Venue Tax Status Report for 9\/30\/2025.) <\/p>\n

The expenditures have mostly been for architectural and engineering services.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Plans\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tPlans being discussed to move Expo Center downtown, paired with updated Civic Center; Expo leader still hopes it works on north Lubbock site<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFebruary 21, 2025\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"County\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tCounty deadline proposed for Expo Center; if Corley\u2019s proposal passes, 120 days to finish planning or the county goes it alone<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMarch 7, 2025\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"New\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tNew law soon lets Lubbock raise money for Civic Center project<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAugust 7, 2025\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Future\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tFuture of Civic Center, Expo Center on line in City Council, Commissioners Court meetings<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOctober 14, 2025\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Study:\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tStudy: No matter where expo center goes, outdated Civic Center, surrounding areas need dramatic improvements<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOctober 20, 2025\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"County\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tCounty oversight board withholds blessing for expo center, wanting more answers on financial issues<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNovember 14, 2025\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Next\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tNext few weeks will tell if oversight board\u2019s Expo Center questions are answered enough to get decision<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNovember 17, 2025\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Internal county tensions<\/p>\n

During the November meeting, some of the tension came from county officials and LGC members questioning whether LCEC really had the money available to make the plan work. But some of the tension was more internal within the county.<\/p>\n

LGC board member Gary Boren said early in the meeting some members had information already from the county\u2019s bond counsel. Others did not.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had a unanimous vote for the board to meet with bond council \u2013 our financial advisor,\u201d Boren said.<\/p>\n

Fellow member Carl Isett added, \u201cI still don\u2019t know. And I guess Gary doesn\u2019t know what\u2019s going on.\u201d<\/p>\n

The plan calls for a bank loan until all the private donation are collected. Some members of the LGC saw the terms of the loan, others had not.<\/p>\n

Boren also said, \u201cWe were appointed to oversee this thing. We need to see the documents.\u201d<\/p>\n

Member Dwight McDonald said, \u201cCertain people know. I don\u2019t. And I don\u2019t like making decisions without the information.\u201d<\/p>\n

Three County Commissioners were present for part of the November 14 LGC meeting.<\/p>\n

Commissioner Jordan Rackler indicated he had seen the terms of the loan.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are things in this term sheet that we have seen that have some questions that will need to be revised or discussed,\u201d Rackler said.<\/p>\n

But he wanted to assure people who had not seen the document, that it did not hold the county responsible for the bank loan \u2013 which would be against state law if it happened.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s on LCEC if it fails,\u201d Rackler said.<\/p>\n

Boren disagreed, saying to Rackler, \u201cNo, it\u2019s on you if it fails. \u2026 If you don\u2019t need us, y\u2019all do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Commissioner Jason Corley said, \u201cWe\u2019ll figure out what we agree on, what we disagree on, and what we need to work on.\u201d<\/p>\n

McDonald responded to Corley, saying, \u201cYou say all of us. Do you mean just the county?\u201d<\/p>\n

Corley said, \u201cYou are the county, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n

McDonald, \u201cNo I\u2019m not. \u2026 Because if I was the county, I\u2019d see the sheet. So, I\u2019m not.\u201d<\/p>\n

LGC chairman Gary Greenstreet tried to address the concern of some people knowing and others not knowing what the county\u2019s bond counsel had to say.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf there\u2019s some that are uncomfortable not knowing what bond counsel has said, I\u2019ll just say this personally. \u2026 I\u2019m feeling pretty comfortable that they are comfortable with where this sits,\u201d Greenstreet said.<\/p>\n

He then informed the LGC they could ask their questions of the bond counsel in the next meeting.<\/p>\n

\n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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