Voting in favor of the University Medical Center of El Paso’s $397 million projects bond issue on the Nov. 5 election ballot is an easy decision for El Paso real estate developer Will Harvey.
“To me, it’s a no-brainer for our community. I can’t believe we don’t have some of the (medical care) stuff,” most notably a burn center and comprehensive cancer care center that are elements of the bond issue, he said.
The proposed projects , to be paid with property tax-supported bonds, also will have economic development benefits, including adding construction jobs and additional jobs at county-owned UMC, Harvey said.
“I think this is a pretty cost-effective way to do it. It’s like $6 per month, more or less, (property tax increase) for an average home” to pay for the UMC bond issue, he said.
Harvey is treasurer and one of the organizers of the Citizens United for UMC Political Action Committee, a group of mostly business people advocating for passage of the bond issue. He also is the chief executive officer of Riverbend Development, which develops shopping centers and self-storage facilities.