The Save Our Springs Alliance is coming out against Austin City Council’s proposal to expand the Convention Center.
SOS Alliance Executive Director Bill Bunch says expanding the convention center would expand the wasteful spending of the Hotel Occupancy Tax on it. Councilmembers say expanding the convention center would mean more money to help fight homelessness.
Bunch said the convention center consumes over seventy percent of HOT revenue, but only contributes less than four percent of hotel business, which also takes needed money away from things like live music, the arts, parks and historic preservation, the things that people come to Austin for.
Austin musician Nakia Reynoso said re-allocating Hotel Occupancy Tax revenue could help the music scene that attracts tourists.
A resolution being considered at Austin City Hall would expand the convention center and create a new Public Improvement District that would fund homelessness programs. Ann Howard of Ending Community Homelessness Coalition supports it but says this is still not enough money, but this money can be leveraged for evidence based practices that work.
Council estimates that money would be an additional four to ten million dollars annually.
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