Bill

SB 837

84(R) - 2015
Senate Intergovernmental Relations
Senate Intergovernmental Relations
Intergovernmental Affairs

Vote Recommendation

No
  • Negative
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Negative
  • Neutral

Author(s)

Kirk Watson

Bill Caption

Relating to a common characteristic or use project in a public improvement district in certain municipalities.

Fiscal Notes

No fiscal impact to the State is expected. It is assumed that a local governmental entity would undertake a project only if sufficient funds were available or it would not result in a negative fiscal impact; therefore, no significant fiscal impact is anticipated.

Bill Analysis

SB 837 seeks to expand the bracket on public improvement districts from Dallas to include Austin, Arlington, and San Antonio. These public improvement districts allow hotels within the specified municipalities to pool money in an attempt to increase tourism to the city. 

Vote Recommendation Notes

Currently only Dallas is authorized to use these public improvement districts. SB 837 would expand the use of public improvement districts to Austin, Arlington, and San Antonio. The goal of these districts is to attract and increase tourism through the pooling of money, based on hotel occupancy, to improve the aesthetics of the city.

Private businesses seeking to increase tourism to benefit their profits are free to form their own voluntary associations to achieve this end. Any issues arising from businesses not wishing to participate or carry their fair share is a problem that the market can handle without municipal intervention. Therefore, creating public improvement districts is an unnecessary expansion of local government that would interfere with the free market. We do not support this legislation.