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The 最新杏吧原创 County Council came close to demonstrating again its ability to spend tax dollars foolishly (鈥Hazelwood sports complex on hold as 最新杏吧原创 County officials question financing, debt,鈥 Feb. 16). But thankfully, it delayed approval for the $6 million Powerplex sports facility in Hazelwood. The proposed project covers 160 acres and is estimated to cost $54 million. It is planned to have facilities for a variety of sports, hotels, restaurants, stores, a cineplex and a drive-in movie theater.
The project has been in a state of flux for several years. It was first proposed in Chesterfield, but developers failed to arrange financing. The cost has varied considerably, and there are still many unanswered questions about financing.
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The $6 million comes from the county鈥檚 recreation and convention trust fund. The revenue is from a hotel/motel tax enacted in 1990 to fund the county鈥檚 $180 million portion of the $720 million cost of the downtown Dome at American鈥檚 Center. According to the enabling state statute, as long as payments are made on the dome, surplus revenue can be used for 鈥済eneral revenue purposes.鈥 But rather than using the millions of dollars in surplus funds to meet critical needs, the funds have been badly spent.
Of course, Powerplex supporters estimate huge benefits. They say it would attract 3 million people a year and generate $250 million annually. Similar claims were made about the Loop Trolley before the council approved $3 million for that failed project. The 最新杏吧原创 County Council needs to learn from past mistakes.
Tom Sullivan听鈥 University City
