Half a billion in new debt and higher hotel taxes are now a reality for Central Texans.
Search Hotel Occupancy Tax
Amarillo City Council Votes to Expand Hotel Occupancy Tax Collection
New ordinance requires that bed-and-breakfast locations, as well as short-term rentals, collect local hotel occupancy taxes.
Adler Proposes HOT Increases to Pay for Homeless Services
Like clockwork, Austin’s leadership answers every potential issue the same way: more spending, more taxes, and more programs.
Amarillo Voters Face Unprecedented Bond Measure
As Amarillo voters head to the polls, they face the largest collective bond measure in the city’s history. Totaling $340 million, Amarillo’s City Council has proposed seven separate bond measures that address everything from upgrading bathrooms in city hall to building a new senior center.
A High Price to Pay for Luxury
Midland City Council members face a $42.3 million decision in July of whether or not to build a new convention center downtown (called the Midland Center) that would be funded by hotel occupancy tax revenue. With Midland’s economy in a “slump” due to commodity prices, residents are concerned whether the timing of this purchase could prove unwise in the end.
Texas Travelers and Businesses Face Record High Hotel Taxes
Considered a “tourist tax” to many, the Hotel Occupancy Tax is often overlooked by critics when compared to property and sales taxes; more accurately, the HOT represents yet another business tax. With apathy on its side, Hotel Occupancy Rates have skyrocketed across Texas while local governments use the revenue to fund arguably unnecessary and expensive projects.
Midland Convention Center To Top $42.3 Million
Midland City Council voted last week to move forward with a schematic design option for the new Midland Center – an event venue downtown. While numbers are subject to change, the favored design option would cost approximately $42.3 million in hotel occupancy tax dollars and would hike the city debt to nearly $200 million.
Bayou City Culture and Tourism
We previously reported on Houston creating its first general plan. The overarching question raised was, should the city fix something that isn’t broken? As we look at Mayor Annise Parker’s 5-year, $85 million “cultural plan” in conjunction with Houston First’s $8.8...
Landgraf Holds Town Hall in Odessa
Newly elected State Rep. Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) held a town hall on Saturday, April 18th. He spent the first half of the event giving an update on what he is currently working on in the legislature, as well as what he has accomplished. Among the things mentioned...