Laura Jesse (photo)
Public Information Officer
Commissioner's Court
Commissioner's Court calls election to extend venue tax
After receiving the green light from the State Comptroller’s office, Bexar County Commissioners Court on Tuesday officially called a special election to put the visitor tax extension before voters in May. With the exception of the amateur sports facilities, which will be funded solely by short-term car rental taxes, voters will be asked to approve an extension of existing hotel-motel taxes and car rental taxes to pay for San Antonio River Improvements, cultural arts facilities and improvements to the Community Arenas grounds and facilities.
The Commissioners made the decision to fund the amateur sports facilities solely with the car rental tax after learning that an admission fee would have to be charged if hotel occupancy taxes were added to the funding mix.
County Judge Nelson Wolff said the county is not inclined to put such a restriction on the fields and sports complexes, because it would reduce access.
“Charging families access to amateur sports games would be counterproductive for what we’re doing,” Wolff said. “This is an exciting venture for Bexar County.”
Precinct 2 Commissioner Paul Elizondo, addressing rumored opposition to the tax extension by the car rental industry, said he couldn’t imagine the industry coming out against sports facilities for the community’s young athletes.
“Well, if the car rental people want to kill this thing, they’re going to have to kill the sports fields,” Wolff said.
County Budget Officer David Smith advised the Commissioners that there will be sufficient revenue from short-term car rental taxes to finance the County’s contribution toward building the 13 amateur sports projects that the Amateur Sports Facilities Citizen Committee identified for funding.
The May 10 ballot will contain four propositions to use the 1.75 percent hotel occupancy and 5 percent short-term car rental tax to fund projects that would spur economic development and increase tourism.
Proposition No. 1 would provide $125 million to fund improvements along the San Antonio River. The total project would connect Mission Espada on the South Side to Brackenridge Park north of downtown with hike and bike trails and other amenities.
Proposition No. 2 would provide funding for 13 amateur sports facilities throughout the county. The various projects, using $80 million in car rental taxes, would double the number of tournament-level soccer fields, create the only tournament fencing center in the state and create the only Olympic aquatic center in the Central United States.
Proposition No. 3 would provide $100 million to improve the Community Arenas grounds and facilities, to include the Freeman Coliseum and the AT&T Center. Improvements would include converting dilapidated barns into multi-use livestock exhibition areas, replacing the lower seating bowl of the coliseum and future improvements to the AT&T Center that would increase fan comfort and energy efficiency.
Proposition No. 4 would provide $100 million for the creation of a performing arts center at Municipal Auditorium, $6 million for the renovation of the Alameda Theatre and $4 million toward the renovation of the Dolph & Janey Briscoe Western Art Museum. San Antonio is the only city of its size in the United States that does not have a dedicated performing arts center. The center would provide a home for the San Antonio Symphony, the Lyric Opera and an education center for the community.
Early voting will begin April 28 at 41 locations throughout the county, with the joint special election on May 10.
Public Information Officer
Commissioner's Court
Commissioner's Court calls election to extend venue tax
After receiving the green light from the State Comptroller’s office, Bexar County Commissioners Court on Tuesday officially called a special election to put the visitor tax extension before voters in May. With the exception of the amateur sports facilities, which will be funded solely by short-term car rental taxes, voters will be asked to approve an extension of existing hotel-motel taxes and car rental taxes to pay for San Antonio River Improvements, cultural arts facilities and improvements to the Community Arenas grounds and facilities.
The Commissioners made the decision to fund the amateur sports facilities solely with the car rental tax after learning that an admission fee would have to be charged if hotel occupancy taxes were added to the funding mix.
County Judge Nelson Wolff said the county is not inclined to put such a restriction on the fields and sports complexes, because it would reduce access.
“Charging families access to amateur sports games would be counterproductive for what we’re doing,” Wolff said. “This is an exciting venture for Bexar County.”
Precinct 2 Commissioner Paul Elizondo, addressing rumored opposition to the tax extension by the car rental industry, said he couldn’t imagine the industry coming out against sports facilities for the community’s young athletes.
“Well, if the car rental people want to kill this thing, they’re going to have to kill the sports fields,” Wolff said.
County Budget Officer David Smith advised the Commissioners that there will be sufficient revenue from short-term car rental taxes to finance the County’s contribution toward building the 13 amateur sports projects that the Amateur Sports Facilities Citizen Committee identified for funding.
The May 10 ballot will contain four propositions to use the 1.75 percent hotel occupancy and 5 percent short-term car rental tax to fund projects that would spur economic development and increase tourism.
Proposition No. 1 would provide $125 million to fund improvements along the San Antonio River. The total project would connect Mission Espada on the South Side to Brackenridge Park north of downtown with hike and bike trails and other amenities.
Proposition No. 2 would provide funding for 13 amateur sports facilities throughout the county. The various projects, using $80 million in car rental taxes, would double the number of tournament-level soccer fields, create the only tournament fencing center in the state and create the only Olympic aquatic center in the Central United States.
Proposition No. 3 would provide $100 million to improve the Community Arenas grounds and facilities, to include the Freeman Coliseum and the AT&T Center. Improvements would include converting dilapidated barns into multi-use livestock exhibition areas, replacing the lower seating bowl of the coliseum and future improvements to the AT&T Center that would increase fan comfort and energy efficiency.
Proposition No. 4 would provide $100 million for the creation of a performing arts center at Municipal Auditorium, $6 million for the renovation of the Alameda Theatre and $4 million toward the renovation of the Dolph & Janey Briscoe Western Art Museum. San Antonio is the only city of its size in the United States that does not have a dedicated performing arts center. The center would provide a home for the San Antonio Symphony, the Lyric Opera and an education center for the community.
Early voting will begin April 28 at 41 locations throughout the county, with the joint special election on May 10.
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