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Brownsville staff recommends HOT funding allocations for FY26, directing money to zoo, historical association and sports events
Summary
City staff proposed FY26 hotel occupancy tax awards across 17 applicants, recommending funding for tourism-related groups—from Gladys Porter Zoo to Q7 Sports—to meet state eligibility rules for promoting tourism and the hotel industry.
The city’s Convention and Visitors Bureau presented recommended allocations from the 7% hotel occupancy tax pool for FY26 and explained eligibility criteria under state law: funds must promote tourism and the hotel and convention industry and fall within nine authorized categories such as advertising, sporting events and historic preservation.
Assistant Director Malie Montesam said 17 applications were received and presented proposed awards — examples included $550,000 for Gladys Porter Zoo, $250,000 for the Brownsville Historical Association, $122,000 for the Children’s Museum, $130,000 for Charro Days, $300,000 for Q7 Sports and $40,000 for Texas Southmost College. She said eligible expenses are derived from applicant budgets and the advisory board’s review and noted some requests were reduced to their tourism-eligible components.
Commissioners asked about the advisory board’s process, historical preservation caps (15% for preservation and 15% for arts), and whether small requests could be diverted to a CVB advisory fund for special events. Staff said the CVB uses data, including Placer AI analytics, to assess whether events generate overnight stays and meets state ‘heads-to-beds’ expectations. Staff also said some organizations receive general-fund support for preservation when awarding HOT funds is not appropriate.
The commission took questions, asked staff to follow up on a few applicants and approved the staff recommendations on the record.
