Voters Overwhelmingly Pass GOB Referendum
On November 2, 2004 Hollywood voters passed both General Obligation
Bond Referendum questions with nearly 70% voting yes to public safety
improvements and 65% voting yes for park and community center
improvements. The $54 million in projects will be implemented over a
5 – 7 year period and result in upgraded fire stations, parks and
community centers.
Improvements will occur throughout the city including rebuilding the Fred Lippman Multi-Purpose and Senior
Center, purchasing new buses to provide seniors with transportation to community centers and cultural events,
building new athletic fields, and installing shade covers and safety features at playgrounds. Public safety
projects include purchasing new life-saving vehicles for the Fire Rescue Department and advanced crime fighting
technology for the Police Department, building a new public safety complex on Federal Highway, and to rebuilding
three obsolete fire stations.
Recognizing that citizens wanted public involvement in the process, the City Commission created a General
Obligation Bond Oversight Advisory Committee in October 2004. The oversight committee will monitor the
implementation of the GOB projects (Parks and Recreation and Public Safety projects) and make recommendations
to the City as necessary. The committee will meet quarterly to review project progress. Members will be
appointed by the City Commission in February 2005. For more information or to volunteer for the committee,
please contact Lorie Mertens-Black, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, at 954-921-3599.
Financing Projects Through General Obligation
Bonds
Using General Obligation Bonds (GOBs) is a way to finance citywide capital improvement projects
(such as parks, facilities and streetscapes) by taking out bonds with very low interest rates.
The public must vote on authorizing the City to acquire the bonds; therefore, a referendum is
proposed for November 2004. If approved, property owners will see a separate assessment
listed on their tax bill to pay back the bonds.
GOBs have been approved in many South Florida communities including:
2004 - Lauderdale Lakes: $15 million bond for parks, street resurfacing and beautification –
passed by 70% of those voting
2004 - North Lauderdale: $4.5 million bond for a fire station – passed by 70% of those voting
2003 - Davie: $16.5 million to improve fire/rescue services
2002 - Lighthouse Point: $6.2 million bond for improvements to facilities and infrastructure
2000 - Broward County: $400 million Open Space & Conservation Bond
1999 - Broward County: $140 million for libraries
1997 - Fort Lauderdale: $35 million Park & Recreation Bond
1996 - Miami-Dade: $200 million Safe Neighborhoods and Parks Bond
In November 2004, the City of Hollywood asked voters several referendum
questions about funding projects in the following areas:
Recreation and Parks
Public Safety
The projects listed in the referendum are requests made by community residents. Such projects
will renovate or replace aging and outdated facilities. These projects will provide additional amenities for
residents and their families. In addition, they can enhance police and fire service. All will
provide economic benefits both short term (construction) and long term (property value increases).
Voters receive information on the GOB referendum in a variety of ways to include presentations
to homeowner groups, presentations to the City Commission, articles in the City newsletter, brochures,
video on government access channel, information on the City’s web site, and through an information
line (954-921-3041).
To learn
more about General Obligation Bonds, please view our streaming video.
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