Civic Center Expansion Ballot Measure A Good Idea

The Bismarck Tribune is reporting on a group of hotel owners that wants an expansion of the Bismarck Civic Center on the November ballot. The expansion would mostly focus on adding meeting and convention space, totaling 30,000-40,000 square feet. It would be paid for through an increase in the visitor’s tax; mainly on liquor and hotel reservations.

This is not the first time that we’ve heard mention of a Bismarck Civic Center expansion. In 2009, a three-phase expansion plan, totaling an estimated $26-$35 million, was being considered that would have also included a new 16-story Canad Inn hotel. That plan included a suggested 1% increase in the city’s sales tax, but was put on the back burner due to signs of the recession touching Bismarck at the time.

The current proposal would address what’s needed most in the region – meeting and convention space – and be paid for through a tax attached to the businesses that would see the most direct benefit rather than taxing citizens. For that reason, I believe this plan holds merit and should be given serious consideration.

The recent oil expo is a clear example of why additional convention space is needed. The event, which reportedly attracted 4,000 people, ran out of exhibitor space and might have attracted even more to the region had there been additional space.

The state is booming and Bismarck needs to stay up with times to be known as a preferred destination for conventions and meetings, or else another city will gladly take on that position.

The Civic Center was built in 1969 on land partially donated by the Wachter Family, who were in the early stages of developing the adjacent Kirkwood Mall at the time. The exhibit hall, located north of the arena, was added in 1993.

The last hotel built in Bismarck that included convention space was the Radisson Hotel in 1982, then known as Sheraton Galleria.

External Link:

• Civic Center ballot measure being considered (Bismarck Tribune)

UPDATE (08/29/2012): After hearing further details of the plans, I am now becoming weary of this specific $90-million plan. 

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2 Comments

1. 

   J Paul

   August 20, 2012 at 10:44 am

   You state “The current proposal would address what’s needed most in the region – meeting and convention space – and be paid for through a tax attached to the businesses that would see the most direct benefit rather than taxing citizens”

   My question to you is, “Who do you think will be paying this tax to the businesses that would see the most direct benefit?”

   The people of the Bismarck area that eat lunch during the work week, the people from the Bismarck area that grab a beer at happy hour. When you say it won’t be taxing the people of Bismarck – you are sadly mistaken!
2. 

   Randy Hoffman (admin)

   August 20, 2012 at 10:57 am

   You’re misunderstanding my comment, I’m saying that it is a tax targeted at the businesses that will see the most direct benefit (bars, hotels) rather than a general tax targeted at citizens (such as increasing the general salex tax, as has been proposed in the past).

   Visitors frequently patronage hotels and bars… the more visitors, the higher the sales in those industries, which means more funds from those visitors to pay for the Civic Center expansion and less from citizens.

   Yes, you are correct that citizens who consume alcohol and lodge within the city would indeed still pay the tax. There is no tax that absolutely no citizen could avoid to pay for this. Even a direct tax on the business itself would be passed onto its customers, and ticket sales directly from the Civic Center would likely not cover it.

   If you have a better suggestion, I’d welcome your feedback.