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Reeves County Propositions Pass for Third Time, Improvements Coming Soon
Reeves County Propositions Pass for Third Time, Improvements Coming Soon 11/7/12
CBS 7 News Reporter
November 7, 2012
tguinn@cbs7.com
Pecos - It was a case of deja vu, as Pecos voters pass two propositions that were previously approved by voters twice.
Reeves County Proposition One concerning funding for improvement of the Buck Jackson Rodeo Arena, passed with 78-percent of the votes.
The other proposition concerning the Reeves County Civic Center passed with 79-percent of the votes.
This is the third time these propositions were approved by voters.
The Buck Jackson Rodeo Arena has been playing the waiting game for over six years. Arena and civic center improvements have been on the ballot for Reeves County three times. The first time in 2005 and again in 2010.
"The first time we missed some deadlines, we didn't even know about them. We weren't well informed because it was the first time we had ever done something like that," Brenda McKinney, Pecos Rodeo Secretary said.
Now rodeo officials are hoping the third time is the charm.
"It's an opportunity for our community to do these upgrades to our facility and it will not be a burden financially to our citizens," McKinney said.
Propositions 1 and 2 were passed last night to raise the hotel tax by 2-percent. That money will go to the civic center and the arena. That’s about $200,000 a year.
"We're very fortunate to have the things in our community with the oil and gas production. It's going to give us those funds to make the improvements that need to be made and upgrade this facility to where it should be," McKinney said.
Areas to see improvements first: restore or rebuild the stands, fencing and add more box seats.
"Every year the last two nights are sell outs...we just want to bring it up to par in comparison with the caliber of rodeo we put on," McKinney said.
Cowboys and spectators from all over the world come to see the where the first rodeo made it's debut.
County officials say they plan on keeping the arena around for many years to come.
Rodeo officials hope to at least have improved seating by next years rodeo.