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Commerce organizations seek FY2026 hotel‑occupancy funds as council reviews allocations
Summary
Chamber, children’s museum, East Texas A&M athletics and community groups presented requests totaling program and operating support for FY2026 hotel‑occupancy tax allocations. Staff said this meeting was informational only; council will vote on allocations at a later date.
Several Commerce organizations made presentations to the City Council seeking FY2026 allocations from the hotel‑occupancy tax fund, saying the grants support tourism, events and operations that bring visitors and overnight stays.
Assistant City Manager of Financial Services Molly Campbell reviewed the hotel‑tax fund balance and said the presentation was informational only; the council will vote on allocations at a later meeting. Campbell said the city expects the fund balance to be roughly $110,000 at fiscal‑year end and summarized prior awards and requests.
Amy Welch, president of the Chamber of Commerce, requested $11,500 to operate the tourism center and to expand event marketing. Welch said about $10,000 would support operating the tourism center and $1,500 would support a planned 5K — the “Bash Dash” — to accompany the Beaud Arts Bash.
Charlene (last name not provided), director of the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum, requested $8,000 and told the council the museum has grown attendance and draws visitors from across the region; she said the museum had more than 26,000 visitors so far this year and more than 47,000 in prior years. Jim Curry, director of athletics at East Texas A&M University, asked for $15,000 under a marketing agreement tied to athletics events and said the university now brings multiple championships and multi‑team events to Commerce.
Mason Lee, the city’s community engagement specialist (partially funded by hotel tax in prior years), was discussed as an on‑going allocation; staff said the city funds roughly one‑third of that position. The Quilters Unraveled Guild requested $1,500 for marketing its quilt show and workshops; Rachel Sipal, speaking for the guild, said the two‑day show draws vendors and attendees from outside the county.
Campbell reminded council and the public that hotel‑occupancy funds are reimbursed after spending, and the finance director verifies receipts meet statutory and local rules before issuing reimbursement. No allocations were approved at the meeting.
