Expo Center Code words “Heads in Beds”

Tommy Neyland proudly explains the plans of the proposed Leon County Expo Center. Sherry’s Shots On Tuesday, April 27 the Leon County Commissioners Court and the Expo Committee again invited the leaders of Leon County to the Centerville Municipal Building to solicit the various cities’ support. Earlier in the month the same group of community servants learned about legal usage of Economic Development Funds; this time they learned about how to use Hotel/ Motel tax money within the guidelines of the law.

Following a catered meal by County Cousins Judge Byron Ryder began the meeting by explaining the importance of having a facility that will bring guests and tourists to this area. “A facility like the Expo Center can bring people to Leon County for weekend stays. When they are here they eat in our restaurants and many of them will spend the night. They will need to stay in a hotel. This is called getting “Heads in Beds”.

Next up was Tommy Neyland who chairs the Expo Committee. He said the Leon County Commissioner’s Court approached him to come up with a committee that would develop plans for an Expo Center. His group visited many similar facilities all over the state and were amazed at how much they were used.

“Many of these facilities, that are similar to what we are proposing, are booked 48 weekends per year. These are horse shows, dog shows, concerts. And those who attend need something to eat and a place to sleep,” Neyland added.

The primary speaker of the evening was Justin Bragiel, Deputy General Counsel for Texas Hotel and Lodging Association, Austin, Texas. His purpose was to explain how Hotel/Motel tax money could be used to help fund the proposed Expo Center for Leon County.

According to Bragiel, the expenditure must meet three criteria: (1) it must directly promote and enhance tourism. He went on to say that a tourist is someone from another city or county. He also threw in an interested bit of trivia. Leon County has the highest Hotel/Motel tax in the nation; more than Vegas, more than San Francisco, more than New York.

(2) It must fit into one of the tax code categories. These categories are Advertising and Promotion, Convention and Visitors Center, Historical, Arts, Sporting Events. The Expo Center would fall under “Convention and Visitors Center”.

(3) It must show to be primarily involving tourism. That means more than half of the functions held in the Center must bring in people from outside the county.

Bragiel said that the facility must be owned or managed by a city or county government. He added that Hotel/Motel funds from the various cities of the county could be used for the Expo as long as the three criteria were met.

A general question and answer period followed Bragiel’s presentation with hotel owners reflecting concern that they are unfairly taxed. One gentleman said “The first ones to benefit from something like this are the restaurants, then the gas stations, then the liquor stores and then the hotels. Why are we the ones being taxed?”