Judge Eckhardt email re: LGC 334 HOT and the City of Austin

Subject: LGC 334 HOT and the City of Austin
Date: Monday, August 5, 2019 at 3:16:19 PM Central Daylight Time
From: Sarah Eckhardt
To: Commissioners-Court
CC: Jessica Rio, Diana Ramirez, Tom Nuckols, Paul Hopingardner, Sherri Fleming
Attachments: Records delivered to the Comptroller- Resolution_HOT tax.pdf

As you all know, the City of Austin currently utilizes all of the statutorily allowed HOT including the 2% LGC 334 HOT that could be available to the County. Pursuant to a long interest and recent votes of the Commissioners Court showing intention to actively pursue the 2% LGC 334 HOT as a funding source for the redevelopment of the Exposition Center and surrounding properties, Travis County sent out the attached documents to the Comptroller and copied the City Manager. I was informed this morning by an assistant city manager that City Council will consider extending full utilization of all 17% of the HOT (including the 2% LGC 334 HOT) as a funding source for the Convention Center and surrounding properties at its Thursday 8/8 Council Meeting.

We do not have an item on tomorrow’s agenda. Our next open court and/or executive session discussion is scheduled for 8/13.

I remain hopeful that the City and the County will find ways to support one another and our overlapping constituents through negotiation.