The Jersey Village City Council members are now discussing additional major building projects. During the July 19-20, 2021 Budget Workshop discussions, they approved a $17.1 million general fund budget. It is important to remember that the major funding of the JV Police and Fire Departments is not included in the budget. The Police Department has been receiving a half-cent sales tax (around $2 million) for its’ operating budget plus additional funding from the general fund. Effective with the May 2021 voting, the voters approved the elimination of the Sales-Tax for Property Tax Relief Fund and the creation of the Fire District that now receives the half-cent sales tax (around $2 million) as a major part of its funding. With those funds included, it is over $21 million for the annual operating budget.
For the past few years, JV City Council has been pushing the Village Center project planned for the land currently owned by the city that was purchased without voter approval for a cost of $8.2 million. That project was to be developed and funded by a company that the City Council had selected to do that development that was presented to be in excess of $100 million. The developer would purchase the land currently owned by the city before any construction began for the $8.2 million. Part of the deal was that a new city hall would be constructed within the Village Center with an estimated cost of $8 million. The project stated that multiple of the buildings would be constructed before any construction of the city hall could begin. Delays and more delays with the signing of the contracts brought excuses and a desire of city council members and the mayor to move forward with a contract to build the new city hall at the Village Center. More than $400,000 was spent for concept plans for how the city hall would look within the Village Center. The plan was for all contracts, construction costs, and other expenses related to the project – to be paid out of Surplus Funds that the city had accumulated over recent years. That would allow JVCC to move forward with the entire project without the voters having a chance to vote on any part of it. The voters could not decide if they wanted the city hall moved across 290 or if they approved the cost of the construction. JVCC would have complete say with every aspect of the project. A petition was signed by over 900 registered resident voters to require that the voters would have a vote on any movement of city hall. JVCC rejected the petition due to the wording of the petition, even though the State of Texas said it was proper. The Village Center project has not moved forward because the developer has no funding for the project and no companies willing to sign a contract to occupy any of the proposed buildings. However, JVCC was prepared to vote to sign a contract for $10.2 million on the new city hall within the Village Center without any payment from the developer.
Now the current JVCC members are discussing the possibility of putting a $20 million bond program before the voters to fund projects like a New Golf Course Convention Center to be constructed where the existing golf course clubhouse is located. Some on the city council have estimated the interest on the $20 million would be about $8.6 million if the project start date is 2023. It is impossible to estimate that cost at this point because of the current inflation rate and the current state of events in America today. There seem to be no current council members that even question the viability of any of the projects they propose. Why would anyone assume that the city could make a profit running a Convention Center located at a golf course the city currently owns? Why would they believe they can book weddings and other events and compete with others in that line of business? How do you book conventions when area hotels have rooms set up for that purpose and attendees can stay there? Where does the additional parking come from when the golf course is open? How much additional operating and maintenance costs can be paid for with the golf course income without additional subsidies by the taxpayers? What is the True Total operating picture for the golf course over the entire ownership period since the golf course was purchased? What percent of the homeowners in Jersey Village actually use the golf course and how is that likely to change over the next ten years. Has anyone seen a cost/benefit analysis on this project or do we just do what a few people “in charge” want? It was stated that an increase in property taxes of at least 10% would be required. No one can predict how the property taxes would be affected over the long haul as all bond debt is backed by property taxes!
Council Member Michelle Mitcham said she believes the $8.6 million (in interest) is worth moving the construction start date up because citizens are asking for this venue, and events such as weddings, conventions, and golf course tournaments hosted there would bring in additional revenue. “It’s going to bring so (many) people into our city that host events and give more than just strict profit of golf course,” Mitcham said. “I mean, City Hall’s not bring us anything, but it’s what a lot of the people want. We overwhelmingly get emails about this (being) what the people want, and we represent the people.”
Just read Michelle’s own words that she said about the city hall and the proposed convention center. I do not understand how the Mitcham’s know so much about project planning, development of major projects, building construction, and operating convention centers. Maybe they can furnish their research documents? If anyone had done any research of those involved with the Village Center project, they may have found that there is not much evidence that what was said in the presentation on the Village Center project was accurate. See other postings on this site regarding those statements.