January 3, 2003

Galveston Arts & Historic Preservation Advisory Board

The City of Galveston Arts & Historic Preservation Advisory Board met with non-profit organizations seeking a portion of the hotel occupancy tax to support events that will attract overnight visitors to Galveston.

Buzz Elton said 7/8 of one percent of the hotel occupancy tax collected in Galveston is distributed to the organizations.  One-eighth cent has been dedicated to payment of bonds for the Galveston Island Convention Center.  One percent of the HOTax generates $675,000. 

"The moneys from the hotel tax basically get funneled through the city," Elton said, explaining that the committee will make its recommendations to Galveston City Council.    "Then the city tells the Park Board of Trustees who is eligible for their funding, based on their putting in their reports, then the park board writes the checks."

Allocation of the funds is staggered.  Major organizations, funded for multiple years, have received their allocations previously.  This year, groups requesting funding for one year, or seed money to begin new projects, are vying for a share of $23,600 that is available. 

Representatives of the interested organizations were advised to meet the deadline of January 15 to submit their applications, and to observe all requirements for filing financial reports.  It was noted that organizations have lost their funding for failure to meet reporting requirements.

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