Hotel-occupancy tax collections in Laredo remain above forecast, board reviews budget update

At its May 1, 2025 meeting the Laredo tourism board reviewed year-to-date financial statements and heard that hotel-occupancy tax collections remain above the board’s forecast as the fiscal year approaches its end.

Board members were shown the monthly financial statements (pages 4–6 of the packet) and a budget update graphic (page 11) showing expenditures versus available budget. A staff presenter said the tourism office “was very cautious in forecasting for this year” because of recent changes affecting visitation but that “hotel occupancy tax collections are still above our forecast.”

The presentation noted the report formats on pages 4 and 5 and described page 6 as the tax-collections overview; no dollar totals were provided during the presentation. Staff said a separate occupancy tally for Semana Santa would be finalized and shared in June. The board did not adopt new budget policy or amend spending during the meeting; the discussion focused on year-to-date performance and visualization of spent versus available budget.

The board also approved minutes from the April 3, 2025 meeting. The transcript records the chair saying, “Motion carries,” but does not list a mover, seconder or a vote tally in the meeting record.

The discussion included reminders that the fiscal year is nearing its close and that staff will continue to monitor collections and expenditures; no new appropriations or budget adoptions were made at this meeting.

Looking ahead, staff emphasized they will provide occupancy numbers for recent events in the June reporting cycle so the board can compare actual visitation with the current forecast.