It’s hard to tell the same lie twice.
Item 9.1 on the regular city council agenda of February 25, 2014 is an example.
Our city’s chief financial officer made a presentation supporting the expenditure of $45 million to build a rental car parking facility at the airport. The facility is to be funded by a customer facility charge of $3.50 per day on each customer renting a motor vehicle from an airport rental company. They started collecting this charge in February of 2012.
Remember that the chief financial officer has been projecting a 3% increase in hotel occupancy taxes. More shortfalls explained that the actual numbers are down by 3.1% this year, leaving a shortfall of 6.1%.
New and de-proved
The airport presentation projects a 1% increase in vehicle rentals each year.
Look at column H in the chart from her presentation:
Remember that many of the people that rent motel rooms arrive in rented cars. Look for this to affect the financing of the ball park.
We deserve better
Brutus
elpasospeak 
I wonder if anyone bothered to do an analysis of WHO comes to El Paso and STAYS in Hotels here… we have a LOT of military and and federal government employees (DoD, CBP, etc] who are TAX EXEMPT!
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We also have a lot of real property that is tax exempt by design, the vampire economy working NOT for you and I.
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Our stellar media outlets are of course silent on these minor details.
Maybe I’m wrong, but I don’t think the HOT shortfall really affects the financing of the ballpark. The financing has already been arranged. We’ve borrowed and spent the money and now we’re obligated to pay it back. The HOT shortfall does, however, affect our ability to service the debt in the way which was originally planned. If we have to come up with money from other sources to service the debt, it’s going to get very, very interesting. But why should the media bother to look at that when it is getting ready to help promote the pocket pups.
It’s all good. Right?
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Facts never trouble estimates in CH, especially when they’ve already decided they want the project. Think the $50MM stadium.
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That’s because no one at city hall or on city council is held personally and professionally accountable or legally or financially liable for their incompetence, much less their dishonesty (otherwise known as fraud).
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