Towns reject arena upgrade bond

POCATELLO, Idaho – Voters in the cities of Pocatello and Chubbuck soundly rejected a bond proposal that would have raised property taxes to pay for a $24 million upgrade to Idaho State University’s Holt Arena.

More than 71 percent of voters in Pocatello voted against the bond measure, which would have raised taxes about $7 a month for every $100,000 worth of taxable property value.

In Chubbuck, where residents would have seen an increase of about $6.40 a month for every $100,000 of taxable property, 83 percent of voters voted no.

Proponents of the bond measure said the renovations are needed to make sure Holt Arena keeps attracting big events – and out-of-town money – to the region.

But opponents said the university should instead run a private fundraising campaign or raise student fees to pay for the renovations.

Pocatello Mayor Roger Chase and Chubbuck Mayor Steven England said they would work with the university to explore other ways of raising the money.