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Graham council approves HOT transfer for summer concerts, authorizes sealed-bid sale notice and accepts consent items
Summary
The council approved an ordinance moving $50,000 in hotel-occupancy-tax funds to Visit Graham for the summer concert series, authorized notice to sell a jointly owned parcel by sealed bid, and approved consent items including minutes and a police profiling report.
The Graham City Council on Wednesday approved several formal actions on the consent and regular agendas, including a $50,000 transfer from the Hotel Occupancy Tax fund to Visit Graham to support the city’s summer concert series, and authorized notice to offer by sealed bid a parcel the city holds as an undivided half interest.
City Secretary and Finance Director Marcy Bueno was recognized in the meeting; council members first approved the consent agenda, which included minutes of the Jan. 30, 2025 meeting and release of the Graham Police Department’s calendar-year 2024 profiling report on a single motion. Motion by Jack, second by Shanna; motion passed with the council recorded as in favor.
On a separate item, council adopted on first and final reading an ordinance amending the fiscal year 2024–25 municipal budget to transfer $50,000 from the Hotel Occupancy Tax Fund to Visit Graham to fund the summer concert series. City staff and Visit Graham representatives told council that sponsorship revenue had not materialized this year and the event’s budget is roughly $74,000. City Manager Eric and Visit Graham director Kathy explained that hotel-occupancy-tax (HOT) funds can only be used for visitor-attracting activities and are not general tax dollars. The ordinance passed 4–1 (motion by Jeff; second by Shannon).
Council also approved a resolution to publish notice and offer a city-owned undivided half interest parcel in Young County for sale by sealed bid. Staff noted the city’s interest is held jointly with the Texas Southwest Cattle Raisers Association and that any sale would require the association’s written concurrence before closing. The resolution passed on a recorded motion (motion by Jack; second noted).
Councilmembers discussed Visit Graham’s use of HOT reserves, the series’ audience and local economic effects; staff said December HOT receipts totaled about $22,700 and year-to-date collections near $88,400, with Holiday Inn Express and Best Western accounting for most collections. Visit Graham said concerts have drawn thousands to the square and staff will work with merchants and partners to increase business participation and sponsorship opportunities.
All formal votes and outcomes were entered in the official record.
