The El Paso County Commissioner’s Court voted unanimously Sept. 12 to delay the decision to allow time for a petition of voters to decide whether or not UMC can utilize the certificates of obligation.
El Paso County Clerk Delia Briones told the publication her office received three petitions, but only one petition met the requirements of having 5 percent of registered voters, with 36,000 signatures. A decision on whether or not the petitions are valid will be announced by Oct. 3.
If enough valid signatures are compiled, debt issuance will be included on the ballot of the county’s next election. If not, the Commissioner’s Court will vote on issuing the debt Oct. 3.
“UMC wants to issue debt without voter approval for projects such as an intensive care unit, nine additional operating rooms, a new Central El Paso clinic, a burn treatment center, a build-out of the eighth floor of El Paso Children’s Hospital with 26 additional beds and a new cancer treatment center,” according to the publication.
