Voters in Fort Worth overwhelmingly agreed to raise the city’s hotel tax on Saturday in order to pay for the renovation and expansion of the city’s convention center.
More than 70% of the voters who cast ballots in the May 4 election supported Proposition A, which passed with a total of 14,570 votes out of 20,311.
Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker thanked voters on X for passing the increase.
“Thank you to Fort Worth voters for turning out in support of Proposition A. 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,” Parker wrote.
The Fort Worth hotel occupancy tax rate will increase by 2%, bringing it to 17%. Hotel occupancy tax is the portion of the bill hotel visitors pay that goes to the city for an overnight stay. It is the central source of revenue for the city’s cultural and tourism fund.
The additional income from the approval of Proposition A will be used to cover a $701 million expansion and renovation project for the city’s convention center, according to Fort Worth Report.
The convention renovation will be split into two phases and is expected to be completed in 2029. The first phase will involve the construction of new kitchens and loading docks and the upgrading of Commerce Street, while the second phase will include the demolition of the center’s “flying saucer” to allow for the building’s expansion, reported Fort Worth Report.
Local attorney Brian Newby, the chair of Together Fort Worth, said that the improvements to the convention center will help the local economy and create jobs for the city.
“Fort Worth wins when visitors spend,” Newby said, per the Fort Worth Report.
The Dallas Express reached out to Mayor Parker for comment but did not receive a response.
