Voters in Fort Worth gave Proposition A a resoundingly high grade when they went to the polls this past Saturday, May 4. They passed it overwhelmingly with nearly 72% of the vote.
The proposition includes a 2% increase in the city’s hotel occupancy tax, raising the tax on the cost of a room to 17%. Revenue from the additional tax will be used for renovation of the Fort Worth Convention Center and other tourism projects.
Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker’s reacted to the vote in a tweet.
“Thank you to Fort Worth voters for turning out in support of Proposition A,” she said. “This means more investment back into our thriving tourism industry, more support for the businesses that rely on it to be successful, and bold investments in the future of our Convention Center.”
The expansion will greatly increase the Convention Center’s attendance capacity to approximately 1.2 million, which is expected to increase hotel bookings by as much as double on an annual basis. Also, those folks from out of town will be spending money in local restaurants and other establishments.
Visit Fort Worth President and CEO Bob Jameson called the passage of the proposition “a victory for Fort Worth’s economy.”
“Our convention center is a powerful engine that creates jobs and supports small businesses,” he said. “Thanks to Fort Worth voters passing Prop A we will be able to expand the center without further delay and continue our momentum bringing meetings and sports events to our city.
“We are the 13th largest city in the nation, but our convention space ranks 47th. This weekend, voters decided we must improve and expand this facility, which is the first impression many visitors have of our city. After all, it all starts with a visit.”
City officials noted that the increased tax will benefit tourism in Fort Worth. The city is well-known for being a destination spot for sporting events, such as the upcoming professional golf tournament, the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club. The city also hosts many conventions, a major reason for the Convention Center makeover.
In addition, the tax will help preserve such things as historical sites and museums and will help support operating costs for Visit Fort Worth and the Will Rogers Memorial Center as well the Convention Center.
“Thanks to the community’s support, Fort Worth is set to become a top destination for large-scale conventions and events, significantly elevating our profile on the national and international stage,” Fort Worth Chamber President and CEO Steve Montgomery said in praise of the passage. This project will drive substantial economic growth and job creation, all while utilizing a funding mechanism that does not impact Fort Worth’s general fund or increase property or sales taxes.”
Chamber officials called the approval a win not only for the business community and residents of Fort Worth, but also for visitors to the city.
The city council is expected to canvas and certify the results at its next meeting on May 14.
Results of other elections held on Saturday can be found on Tarrant County’s elections website.
