Aransas Pass approves hotel-occupancy tax awards for local festivals, raises Saltwater Mardi Gras grant to $6,500

Aransas Pass — The Aransas Pass City Council on April 20, 2025, approved hotel-occupancy-tax (HOT) grants for multiple local events and organizations, including an amended $6,500 award to Destination Aransas Pass for the Saltwater Mardi Gras.

The HOT fund balance available for awards was reported at $288,011. City staff said awards must be limited to activities that promote tourism, per Texas law and guidance the city used to review applications.

City staff member Mary, who presented the applications, told the council that seven applications were received by the March 31 deadline and that applications were reviewed for eligibility with guidance from an attorney with the Texas Hotel and Lodging Association. “The balance that we have available to award is $288,011,” Mary said.

The council voted on each application individually. Actions taken included: - Destination Aransas Pass — Saltwater Mardi Gras (advertising): initially approved for $5,000; afterward the council reconsidered and amended the award to $6,500 (a $5,000 advertising award plus $1,500 for a sporting-event designation). The amendment passed after a motion to reconsider and a subsequent amendment vote. - Fishfest — awarded $6,500 (split described in staff paperwork as advertising, arts cap applied to the arts portion). - Salsa Fest (DNA Productions, held Nov. 2024) — awarded $6,000 after council adjusted award to reflect documented out-of-pocket and donated advertising value. - Smoke on the Water (Redford Ranch Foundation) — awarded $6,308 (per staff recommendation rounding noted in the record).

Organizers and applicants spoke about how funds would be used and about post-event reporting. Rosie Spinks, a representative of Destination Aransas Pass, said event recipients are required to file a post-event report listing costs and receipts: “There is a requirement that after the event, they are required to submit a post event report,” Spinks said. Donnie, who represents Fishfest, described his event’s draw: “We bring people from out of town that competed in this event,” he said, noting plans to expand advertising to San Antonio, Houston and Austin.

Several applications that had incomplete qualifications were deferred. Organizer Hector Rios had three requests the council moved to the May 5 meeting at his request; one of his events was disqualified because it is to be held in another city (Schertz, Texas).

Council members required post-award documentation in some cases. For Destination Aransas Pass, council members asked for a breakdown of advertising expenses and receipts during the post-event report period.

Why this matters: Aransas Pass’s HOT funds are restricted to tourism-promoting uses under state law (Chapter 351 of the Texas Tax Code). The council’s awards distribute public lodging-tax revenue to events intended to draw visitors and spending to the city, and the council attached documentation and category conditions to several awards.

What’s next: Several deferred or out-of-jurisdiction requests were rescheduled for the May 5 meeting; awardees must submit required post-event reports and receipts.

Ending: The council handled HOT awards item by item and recorded motions and votes for each grant. Several applicants who were not present were rescheduled for May 5 to present additional information.