Voters in Harris County will have a chance to weigh in this November on a proposal that calls for repurposing the Astrodome. The Commissioners Court voted unanimously Aug. 13 to place the item—which will require a future tax increase—on the ballot for public approval.

If approved, the measure would allow the county to issue up to $217 million in bonds to finance the redesign and redevelopment of the Astrodome as a multipurpose special events center. The exact property tax increase amount necessary to pay off the bonds has not been determined, but it could be about four-tenths of a cent.

For property owners who qualify for a homestead exemption, the tax increase for a $200,000 home would be about $8 annually, county budget officer Bill Jackson said. The increase would most likely take effect in 2015.

On Sept. 12, a group of past and present county leaders came together to announce the formation of the New Dome Political Action Committee, which will lead efforts to inform voters about the bond election. Former county judges Jon Lindsay and Robert Eckels serve as the PAC's co-chairs.

"We've got an asset here," said County Judge Ed Emmett, who is in support of the PAC. "It belongs to the taxpayers of Harris County, and we need to make the best use of it going forward."

In June, the Harris County Sports and Convention Corporation unveiled the proposal for the Astrodome, dubbed the New Dome Experience. The plan calls for redeveloping the nearly 50-year-old facility and turning it into a space for community and sporting events, festivals and conferences. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo could also use the facility to move some of its outdoor events inside. The repurposing will take about 30 months, which would be in time for Houston to host the 2017 Super Bowl at Reliant Park.

"For all those who care about the future of the Dome one way or the other, go forth," Emmett said. "It's important for people pro and con to start looking into the details and talking about it as an issue."

If the bond election fails, the county will eventually have to stop expenditures on basic structure upkeep that keeps the facility functioning at a basic level, Commissioner El Franco Lee said.

"It's obvious that if we don't save it, it has to be torn down," he said.