Metro Council to take 11th-hour vote on Holden’s bond proposal

According to e-mails between Metro Council members and Chief Administrative Officer John Carpenter, the administration intends to place Mayor Kip Holden’s $748 million bond issue on the council agenda for Aug. 10—the same day as the deadline to put the bond on the Nov. 19 ballot. The finance and executive committee will have an opportunity to make a recommendation on the bond at its Aug. 3 meeting, according to an e-mail from Carpenter. Carpenter has not responded a request for further comment on the bond issue since preliminary details were released Monday, and an aide to Holden says the mayor won’t be elaborating on the 15-page proposal until the council votes on it. “Please note that we are ready to meet with you or any other council member that asks (us) to explain elements of the plan,” Carpenter says to a council member in one email. “Additionally, if the council wishes, we will gladly do a full briefing at a special council meeting called for that purpose prior to the August 10th meeting.” The bond is broken into three components: $350 for public safety, $366 million for drainage improvements, and $32 million for economic development/recreation. It calls for a 20-year, 0.25% sales tax and 2.15 mill property tax increase for the first component; a 20-year, 0.25% sales tax and 0.75 mill property tax increase for the second; and a five-year, 0.25% sales tax and 0.25 mill property tax increase for the third. —Steve Sanoski