Eagle Pass City Council contemplating use of Hotel & Occupancy Room Tax Funds to Reimburse Cost of Public Library Construction Cost

By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.,  Copyright 2017

The City of Eagle Pass, Texas City Council tabled Agenda Item No.  6 regarding the approval of a Resolution authorizing the use of the Hotel Occupancy Tax Revenue for the restoration of the Eagle Pass Public Library after a presentation from City Business and Finance Director Jesus Rodriguez and discussion at its regular meeting on Tuesday, February 2,  2017.

The restoration of the Eagle Pass Public Library is almost completed and should be open to the public in March 2017 after a $3.5 Million restoration project paid for from Bonds previously approved by City Council.

Despite the Public Library being paid for, the Eagle Pass City Council is contemplating the use of Hotel Occupancy Room Tax revenues to reimburse the City up to $1,230,295 of the over $3,500,000 spent by the City on restoring the Public Library.

City Business and Finance Director Jesus Rodriguez presented City Council with a recommendation to use up to $1,230,295 of the current $1,120,560 in Hotel Occupancy Tax Revenues held by the City plus an estimated $109,734 of Hotel Tax Revenues to be collected in 2017,totaling $1,230,295.

Just as City Council was about to approve this controversial use of Hotel Occupancy Tax Revenues for the Eagle Pass Public Library restoration project, which is already paid for and fully funded, City Councilwoman Yolanda P. Roman stated she was uncomfortable with the proposition and needed more information and requested the agenda item be tabled.  Having raised a red flag by Council woman Yolanda P. Roman,  the City Council agreed to table the agenda item and hold a public workshop in the future.