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Former Shenandoah Mayor Urges Use of Hotel-Tax Funds; Council Agrees to Add CVB Review to Agenda
Summary
Former mayor Bob Knight urged the council to stop 'thinking small' and deploy nearly $7 million in hotel-tax money for promotion, events and a formal board to guide spending. Councilmembers agreed to add a Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) discussion to a future agenda to review history, governance and strategic spending.
At the start of the public-comment period, former Shenandoah Mayor Bob Knight asked the council to reconsider how the city uses its hotel-tax (CVB) funds, saying the city holds what he described as nearly $7 million in largely unused hotel-tax revenue and urging creation of an official board to direct spending on events and promotion.
Knight said the funds could be used to promote hotels and attractions in Shenandoah and the vicinity — including The Woodlands and nearby communities — and suggested advertising, event sponsorships and public art to draw more visitors and hotel stays. "Why do we have almost $7,000,000 in virtually unused hotel-tax funds?" he asked during his public comment.
Council members thanked Knight and said they were already examining uses of the CVB fund as they enter the budget process. Councilman Robinson (speaking during council remarks) said the city’s last audit showed an ending fund balance of about $6.5 million and asked for an educational agenda item. Councilmembers asked staff to place a formal discussion on the next agenda to review the CVB’s creation (ordinance or resolution), mission, history, and any existing strategic spending plan so the council and the public could evaluate options.
The action: council agreed by consensus to add a CVB discussion item to a future meeting to explore formal governance and a strategic spending plan for hotel-tax funds.
