BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL ADOPTS RESOLUTION SUPPORTING COUNTY’S EFFORTS TO PURSUE EXPO IMPROVEMENTS USING STATE HOT FUNDS

  

The City of Brenham is supporting Washington County as it asks the State of Texas to allow it to use state hotel occupancy tax (HOT) dollars for upgrades to the Washington County Expo.

On Thursday, the city council unanimously passed a resolution joining the county in requesting the Texas Legislature create a Project Financing Zone.  The county wishes to use the zone, which would be centered around the Expo, to make progress toward targeted improvement projects at the site using the state’s allocation of HOT funds collected from hotel properties within a three-mile radius of the zone. 

Representing the county at the meeting were County Judge John Durrenberger and Expo Director Harrison Williams.  Durrenberger said the funds generated from this zone would allow the county to improve aging facilities at the Expo, leading to increased capacity for bigger events, additional visitors to the area and more revenue.

The zone would have a term of 30 years, and the county estimates receiving between $600,000 and $650,000 each year to put toward projects. 

Williams explained that the Expo has had to turn away many potential clients due to a lack of space to accommodate them, so the zone could help the county not only draw larger rodeo events, but a greater variety of events in general. 

Durrenberger and Williams thanked the city for the support, with Williams saying the next step is to do what can be done to get a bill passed in the Legislature.  State Representative Trey Wharton has filed House Bill 4140 for this purpose.