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Bexar County venue-tax referendums explained to Leon Valley council; rodeo and Spurs arena funding highlighted
Summary
Bexar County representatives told Leon Valley officials that two countywide referendums would fund venue upgrades and a downtown arena through a tourist (hotel/rental-car) tax; speakers said homeowners/renters would not pay directly and that funds are legally restricted to venue uses only.
Jim Lefko, communications director for Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai, briefed the Leon Valley City Council on two countywide referendums on the Nov. 4 ballot aimed at funding venue upgrades and a new Spurs arena.
Lefko said Referendum A would fund improvements at the Frost Bank Center, the Freeman Coliseum and surrounding grounds to allow year-round rodeo operations; Proposition B would contribute to a new downtown Spurs arena with the county’s share capped as a percentage of the facility cost. He described the proposals as funded by an increase in hotel and rental-car taxes that visitors, not homeowners or local renters, would pay.
“Keep in mind also, the word venue is the key to this venue tax. It can only be used for venues,” Lefko said, emphasizing legal limits on the tax’s uses. He said the Spurs and rodeo expect economic benefits: the rodeo anticipates expanding secondary events and increasing scholarship funding, and county staff projected a significant revenue stream tied to tourism activity.
Councilors asked for detail on how the two questions relate if one passes and the other fails. Lefko replied that county officials are focused on providing voters full information and that the venue tax is structured as a tourist tax. Stock Show and Rodeo representatives described a master plan of about $200 million in upgrades for the Freeman grounds and potential expansion to support year-round activities and youth programs. Karen Lykardt, a Leon Valley resident, and rodeo representatives highlighted scholarship programs and youth education initiatives that the rodeo funds annually.
Why it matters: county officials said the tax would not be diverted to general county operations such as housing or law enforcement and that every registered voter in Bexar County is eligible to vote. Councilors and staff discussed outreach and voter education ahead of early voting through Oct. 31 and Election Day on Nov. 4.
Next steps: Councilors raised questions for staff and county representatives and accepted the presentation; no formal council action on the referendums was taken at this meeting.
