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Orange council approves FY2026 hotel‑occupancy tax awards after public hearing
Summary
After a public hearing featuring more than a dozen applicants, the Orange City Council approved allocations from the hotel‑occupancy tax fund for fiscal year 2026. Council reviewed staff recommendations, discussed a handful of increases to individual awards and adopted the allocations by unanimous vote.
The Orange City Council on Oct. 28 approved the city’s fiscal year 2026 hotel‑occupancy tax (HOT) allocations after a public hearing that included presentations from the Convention & Visitors Bureau and more than a dozen applicant groups.
Miss Williams, the city’s CVB representative, opened the hearing and summarized the application and review process, telling council that applicants were notified, reviewed by advisory board staff, and invited to present. “We are requesting the allocation of these amounts from the proposed fiscal year 2026 hotel occupancy tax budget,” Williams said as she introduced applicants.
Finance Director Cheryl Zito reviewed the statutory limits that govern the fund, citing Texas Tax Code Chapter 351 and explaining category caps for arts, historical preservation and advertising and promotions. Zito said the city’s HOT fund is carried as a separate fund with an estimated beginning cash balance in the low‑millions and projected revenues for the coming year; staff proposed using a portion of reserves for a $100,000 repair to CVB/city hall HVAC controls and described a 15% set‑aside of requested awards for contingency.
Applicants described events and programs they said draw visitors and hotel stays. Examples included the Letcher Ledger’s 25‑26 season that brings touring shows and student field trips; the Orange Train Depot’s repair and lighting needs; Barefoot on the Bayou’s inaugural film festival; Juneteenth and other cultural festivals; and a proposed Southeast Texas craft barbecue festival. Presenters emphasized advertising and security costs and tourism impact. Lenny Sanford of the Ledger said local support helps “put heads in beds in Orange on a recurring monthly and annual basis.”
Councilmembers reviewed the recommended awards on screen, asked clarifying questions about a small number of requests and proposed several increases during deliberations. Council increased the Friends of the Orange Depot award to $10,000 and approved other adjustments before moving to adopt the full slate of allocations. The motion to authorize HOT funding listed awarded entities and amounts as read into the record; the motion passed unanimously.
The council did not attach a complete breakdown of every award to this summary. The approved motion, as read into the public record, named dozens of recipients and specified amounts for each. Council and staff said successful applicants will receive notification emails with reimbursement procedures and a reimbursement period that begins Oct. 1, 2025 and ends Sept. 30, 2026.
Councilmembers and staff stressed that HOT funds must be used to promote tourism and the hotel industry and that awards are subject to the statutory limitations described by finance staff. Miss Williams said staff will notify awardees and follow the city’s reimbursement procedures.
The council vote was unanimous. The CVB and finance office will follow up with award letters and instructions to grantees.
