It’s not as easy as some taxpayers think, but Jefferson County commissioners are taking the right resolution to get on with Ford Park’s sales plans. The site has not live up to expectations since it was built about 20 years ago, it has helped the county in many ways. If a personal investor needs to buy it, at a moderate value, the commissioners deserve not to stand in their way.
The four commissioners felt that way at Tuesday’s assembly, County Judge Jeff Branick was unable to attend the assembly because he was at the appearance of Governor Greg Abbott in Beaumont the same day.
The proposal that has aroused maximum interest is that of an organization of investors who wish to offer live horse racing and parimutuel betting in simultaneous races in Ford Park. The band is also interested in the arena and adjacent facilities for concerts and other events.
It’s an ambitious proposition, but if other people are thinking about spending millions of dollars, they invariably do their homework and their business will succeed. And sometimes talking, if someone needs to buy something you sell, you pay attention to their offer.
The county has a $21.6 million debt to the complex. If sold, the county would save about $7 million a year on debt services, operations and other expenses. That would be a large annual build-up in the county budget, which would lead to relief in tax rates.
Another credit is that the sale of the park would reduce the budget of taxes on the occupancy of the hotels that the county uses to market the park. Dean Conwell, executive director of the Beaumont Office of Visitors and Conventions, said the additional budget can be used wisely, attracting more visitors and conventions to the county. Conwell also says that parimutuel racing and betting would give the thousands of motorists driving on I-10 an explanation for why avoid in Ford Park every day. If the hotel had a hotel and restaurants on site, its appeal would increase significantly and a new owner could do so.
It all comes down to promoting the park. A vote on the county’s online page also showed that the electorate helped sell four to one, which also deserves to be taken into consideration. Commissioners deserve, of course, to get the maximum productive price imaginable, because land and amenities are of great value. But finally, it turns out that the park will move to the personal sector, and this transition will adapt to the maximum of taxpayers.