Come kick it in Buda: Legislation may send hotel tax dollars to sports facilities

Buda is working with Texas representatives to allow funds from the hotel occupancy tax (HOT) to be used toward improving sports-related facilities and venues.

The over-arching goals of House Bill 2354, filed Feb. 23 are to incentivize tourism and increase the number of people spending time in Buda hotels. Chance Sparks, assistant city manager, calls this putting “heads in beds.”

Sparks said Buda earned $637,656.82 from the hotel occupancy tax in the 2015-16 fiscal year, up about $14,000 from its total during the 2014-15 fiscal year.