The city should look for other ways to spend tax money being paid to the Augusta-Richmond County Coliseum Authority, Commissioner Joe Bowles said Monday.
The authority receives 30 percent of wholesale beer taxes and half of all hotel and motel taxes -- nearly $2.5 million in 2007. It spends about $1 million a year making payments on an outstanding bond from construction of the James Brown Arena, and the rest goes toward operating expenses.
The arena bond will be paid off in February 2010, after which Mr. Bowles said there could be better uses for the taxes. Under state law, the funds must be used to create tourist draws, and the commission's Finance Committee voted unanimously Monday to have the city administrator and city attorney's office look into what could be done.
Mr. Bowles said he's not suggesting all of the Coliseum Authority's money be pulled, but he said it could get by on about $800,000.
Mr. Bowles said the commission should consider that some authority members want to build a sports and entertainment complex for $125 million to $250 million.
Authority Chairman Richard Isdell, who opposes a new arena, said he doesn't expect the Coliseum Authority to go on collecting $2.5 million after the bond is paid off. He said he wants the authority to devise a five-year plan.
Reach Johnny Edwards at (706) 823-3225 or johnny.edwards@augustachronicle.com.
Comments
The athority should be abolished...uneducated ignorant people taking up space.......
I urge Augustans who care about this issue to contact your state representative and senator NOW (because the General Assembly meets in January) and tell them to come up with a plan to abolish the Coliseum Authority in its entirety. Give operational control of the Arena and the Bell to the Commission. The Commission has some weak spots, but it is WAY more competent than the Coliseum Authority.
Justus4: You are absolutely correct. Use the media and Merry to create a circus atmosphere for the sole purpose of getting the money in 2010. Has some members of the authority been an embarrassment, yes but so have others on other boards. If you notice Bowles does not disclose where the “extra” money will go. If you want to see this “Master(‘s) Plan” fulfilled just stay tuned and follow the money.
I think Justus has a point when he describes Coliseum Authority Board members in this way: "a bunch of useful idiots holding positions on the Coliseum Authority who were made fools of..." Only I'm not sure they were "made fools" by someone outside. They did a perfectly good job from the inside.
Little Lamb is right. The Coliseum Authority should be eliminated. Bring the JBA and Bell under the control of the County Commission via an established department. Remove the waste of duplication and focus on what the County needs from the Arena, not what some bunch of fools that fill the board want to do. Justus also has a point. Keep your eye on this tax money that will be deemed "surplus" and watch that is not used to support special projects. It should be used to benefit many areas and projects that serve the tourism in the county. Could some of this tax also be reserved for renovation or replacement of the JBA?
How about funding it for naintenance of the facility!! The amount of $800 K will hardly pay for a caretaker (only fix whats broken) staff. And we must remember we have millions tied up in a floor refrigeration system that will self destruct if not maintained properly. What do you want to bet the commission will find a way to use the money for the DDA or Masters week?
My plan is for the money to be used for to help construct the new Trade Center. Don't forget that the Arena still gets revenue from its show, the 800k a year should allow for $200,000 a year to be set aside for capital improvements. Also don't forget the $1.00 renovation fee on every ticket sold at the arena.
This is not an attempt to send money to the DDA, the bonds will be paid off so it's got to go somewhere and hopefully reducing the general fund will be the result.
Half Empty, Why don't you get the facts!!!!!!
You people get on my nerves calling others idiots. The idiots are those that can not see what this "Non- Job Keeping" Joe Bowles is trying to do. Joe- Go back to Paine College and straighten out the mess you made over there. The people on the Coliseum Authority do not get paid to take all of the crap they receive and the Commissioners are just as much idiots as anyone- Fred Russell and the "Boys" - Joe, Don, Jerry, and the rest have worked against the authority for years so they cannot be successful. Why don't the Commissioners figure out a way to work together instead of against the Authority? Augusta is full of IDIOTS and it starts at the top with the Mayor and the Commissioners. JOE - PLEASE GET A REAL JOB AND A LIFE _ MAYBE YOU WON"T BE SO VINDICTIVE!!!
Joebowles, thanks. I just want to make sure we don't do to this buliding what we did to places like the law enforcement, museum, library and other buildings. In those buildings we saved a few thousand in maintenance salaties and wound up spending millions because of it. BTW I have an idea that may help with the management of the civic center, why not televise their meetings like the commission and RCBOE meetings. That may show the public what is going on and may get some support for future events.
Insider, you are a very brave person to make anonymous posts. My job at Piane was to keep track of all financial transactions, the audit reports from 2001-2007 show I did my job. I guess the CFO is to blame for declining enrollment and a lack of fund raising? Is it me or do you hate all white people? What is a real job if I don't have one now? As you say why don't I come back to Paine, I see you must be an employee. I guess the 4th floor and I now know you do hate all things white.
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