Two propositions on Bexar County’s Nov. 4 poll ask voters to resolve the way forward for the county’s venue tax — a uncommon pot of funding that doesn’t come straight from residents’ pockets, however from these visiting San Antonio.
Whereas few are arguing in opposition to elevating and persevering with that tax, there’s a battle brewing over whether or not it could possibly or ought to be put to a distinct use.
The county is asking voters to extend its tax on resort rooms from 1.75% to 2% — the state’s most — and lengthen an already current 5% tax on rental automobiles to generate a whole bunch of thousands and thousands of limited-use {dollars} over the subsequent 30 years.
Language to take action is included in each Props. A and B, which might additionally commit the cash to increasing the San Antonio Inventory Present and Rodeo grounds on the East Facet and a proposed NBA enviornment downtown.
Whereas supporters say the taxes on guests will gas growth with out burdening native taxpayers — opponents keep in mind a time once they had extra say over how venue tax {dollars} had been spent.
In back-to-back occasions throughout city this week, county leaders and neighborhood activists delivered competing narratives on a problem already complicated many citizens simply weeks out from the election.
“Prior to now, now we have paid for different initiatives with this cash,” mentioned Adrian Castro, a member of the COPS/Metro Alliance, which opposes public {dollars} for personal growth, and introduced its different imaginative and prescient for the cash at Metropolis Corridor on Thursday morning. “I don’t see something that claims that it has to go to a Spurs enviornment.”
If the propositions fail, county leaders acknowledge they’ll have to return to the drafting board.
But it surely’s unclear whether or not concepts introduced ahead by the neighborhood can be eligible for a similar cash, or what county leaders would do with services it already owns.
“I can’t inform you the way to vote. That’s your determination,” Bexar County Choose Peter Sakai informed residents gathered on the East Facet on Wednesday night time. “That’s why this city corridor assembly is so necessary, so to have the proper, correct data, and you may get your questions answered.”
Restricted use {dollars}?
On the Expo Corridor behind the Freeman Coliseum, roughly 150 residents and enterprise homeowners took in dozens of indicators and renderings that county leaders hoped would give them a clearer image of what they’re voting on beginning on Oct. 20.
Sakai mentioned the plans had been created in response to the Spurs homeowners’ need to maneuver the group downtown — an concept that after appeared scary, however finally left potential for long-promised redevelopment within the Eastside dwelling they’d be leaving.
The Frost Financial institution Middle the place the group at present performs was presupposed to lure bars and eating places to an in any other case industrial a part of city.
Whereas these companies by no means materialized for basketball followers, county leaders hope turning it right into a rodeo district will draw completely different guests who journey and keep in a single day — supporting completely different sorts of facilities.
“I would like the Spurs to depart the East Facet,” Sakai informed attendees. “As a result of establishment won’t change this facility.”
Opponents of the Spurs enviornment aren’t taking a aspect on the East Facet redevelopments.
However their broader messaging across the venue tax appeared to have struck a nerve, with indicators posted across the Expo Corridor repeating the concept it could possibly solely be used for “venue” initiatives.
“State legislation prescribes particularly what these {dollars} can be utilized for,” mentioned state Rep. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins (D-San Antonio), who chaired a committee of leaders that developed plans for the brand new rodeo district. “It’s not simply cash they’ll come into the coffers that could possibly be used any sort of method.”
That argument has been a troublesome promote to those that keep in mind a 2008 venue tax election that solicited suggestions from the neighborhood, after which put cash towards enviornment upgrades, youth sports activities services, the Mission Attain eco-restoration challenge and Alameda Theatre renovations, amongst different initiatives.
“That is your cash, and for those who vote in opposition to Prop. B, it could possibly keep your cash,” Castro mentioned at Thursday’s press convention.
Whether or not the group’s “different imaginative and prescient” is feasible, nonetheless, relies upon partially on how the state views the initiatives.
Texas legislation spells out all kinds of venue tax makes use of — together with aquariums, municipal parks and eco restoration. However for the reason that charges goal resort and rental automobile costs particularly, cities and counties are presupposed to show they’re going towards initiatives that can draw in additional guests.
The Texas Comptroller authorized the county’s plans for a November venue tax election for the NBA enviornment and East Facet renovations. If these measures fail, new initiatives must garner that very same help.
“That’s the rationale Barbara [Gervin-Hawkins] may be very concerned, as a result of it does interact the state of Texas and what the Legislature permits us to do,” Sakai mentioned.
Will Props. A and B increase taxes?
Including to the confusion on venue taxes is an enviornment challenge that’s funding mechanism is way more difficult.
County leaders on Wednesday had been peppered with questions on whether or not the initiatives would affect property taxes — and leaders repeatedly assured them that they might not.
“N-O, no,” mentioned Gervin-Hawkins. “This isn’t property tax. It’s venue tax. … there’s no property tax concerned right here.”
That’s the case for Prop A. Nonetheless, if Prop. B passes, it should solely fund 1 / 4 of the proposed $1.3 billion Spurs’ enviornment, which does lean on property taxes for the town of San Antonio’s $489 million portion of the invoice.
Metropolis leaders say they plan to make use of property taxes from new growth across the enviornment to pay for its development, that means it will come primarily from properties the group’s homeowners would assist construct.
Within the Nov. 4 election, residents of Bexar County’s many smaller municipalities will weigh in on their solely contributions to the initiatives, by means of the venue tax.
For San Antonio residents, nonetheless, Prop. B has turn out to be the catch-all referendum on their contributions to a publicly-funded enviornment district, partially as a result of the town doesn’t must put its cash up for a public vote.
“The town is proposing to make use of that further property tax [revenue] as a method of financing their contribution towards the brand new enviornment,” County Supervisor David Smith mentioned Wednesday. “The county has made no such dedication.”
County leaders are so cautious concerning the broader sports activities and leisure district often called Mission Marvel, Smith averted even naming it when requested if the county deliberate to assist pay for surrounding bridges and streets.
“We’re not speaking about infrastructure. We’re not speaking about something outdoors the 4 partitions and the roof of that enviornment,” Smith mentioned. “So the brief reply is, nothing on this customer tax has something to do with that larger challenge.”
