State hotel‑association official outlines venue‑tax and tourism PID options to fund convention center or sports projects

The council received a presentation from Scott Jaslow, president and CEO of the Texas Hotel and Lodging Association, describing two revenue tools the city could use to support a convention center or sports facility without drawing on general property taxes: (1) a venue project funded by an optional local hotel‑occupancy (venue) tax (up to 2% city option) and other revenue options such as motor‑vehicle rental taxes or ticket surcharges; and (2) a tourism public improvement district (PID), an assessment on hotels that hoteliers petition to create and that is typically passed through to guests. Jaslow said a venue tax would require voter approval and that each proposed project type would be its own ballot proposition. For tourism PIDs he explained petition thresholds (over 60% of hotels by appraised value and other optional criteria), hotel board governance, pass‑through of assessments to guests, and case studies from other Texas cities where PIDs helped boost convention wins and hotel occupancy rates. Council members asked how the tools differ and whether PID revenues can pay debt for facility construction; Jaslow said PID funds are typically used for marketing, sales incentives and event support and are not used to pay for construction costs, whereas a venue tax can be dedicated to building, operating, or debt service for a facility. He also noted legislative programs (House Bill 5012) that can enable state tax rebates for qualified projects in some circumstances. The presentation was informational; no council action was required at the session. Ending: City staff said statutory wording guides ballot language for venue taxes and recommended further study if the council wishes to pursue a voter measure or a hotelier‑led tourism PID.