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Rapid City Voters To Decide On $180M Arena Expansion Tuesday

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — After months of debate, residents of Rapid City on Tuesday will decide the fate of a proposed $180 million expansion of the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center.

The project would replace the facility’s 9,400-seat arena with one that could seat up to 19,000 people. Local sales tax money would be used to repay bonds for the project, which could cost $420 million over 30 years with interest.

Supporters of the project believe it is a wiser investment than putting tens of millions of dollars into upgrading the existing facility. Opponents wonder if the price is a wise investment. It would be the costliest public project in Rapid City’s 133-year history.

The polls are open 12 hours beginning at 7 a.m. Tuesday. The measure needs a simple majority of votes to pass.