What if voters fail to approve a new James Brown Arena?
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - The 2023 election season has begun and Augusta’s biggest item on the ballot that affects everyone in Richmond County is a possible sales tax for a new James Brown Arena.
The tax would charge half a percent on all goods that are subject to sales tax, which would be 50 cents for a $100 purchase.
Election Day is Nov. 7, but early voting got underway Monday, bringing out 87 voters.
EARLIER COVERAGE:
- Election approved for tax to build new James Brown Arena
- Lawmakers clearing the way for new vote on rebuilding James Brown Arena
- What’s ahead for James Brown Arena and Bell Auditorium?
While some people are worried about how much money this may be taking out of taxpayers’ pockets, the Augusta-Richmond County Coliseum Authority says that if it isn’t approved now, a new arena may not be approved in many years to come, or at all.
“This is the last bullet in our gun. We’re going to shoot it no matter what on Nov. 7, and then the guns empty,” said Brad Usry, vice chairman of the authority.
COMING UP:
- Promoters announced Monday that Ja Rule and Ashanti are coming to the James Brown Arena on Feb. 17. Tickets go on sale this Friday at Ticketmaster.com or the SRP Box Office at the James Brown Arena
From air problems to water leakage, Usry says the costs are growing exponentially every month for upkeep of the 1970s edifice.
“Or as folks like to call it, lipstick on a pig,” Usry said. ”In a lot of ways from capacity for seating, capacity for rigging, and when I say capacity of rigging I mean the weight of the shows now. We’ve lost shows, we’ve lost Lionel Richie, we lost Carrie Underwood, we lost Dave Matthews Band, because of the weight of the shows. Not the capacity.”
EARLY VOTING:
He says trying to put in a new arena later would be even more expensive.
“You’re talking about $250 million in today’s dollars, and next year this building’s probably $265 million. So if we don’t do it now, not only finding another funding mechanism, the building costs go up. But right now, as far as the Coliseum Authority, this is our last shot at funding the building,” said Usry.
The Coliseum Authority only expects about 8-10% of Augusta-Richmond County taxpayers to show up for this election, but want more to come out so their voices can be heard.
Copyright 2023 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
