By Kyle Peveto, Opinion Editor

Abilene voters approved a venue tax-which will raise hotel and motel occupancy taxes from 13 to 15 percent-with 64 percent approval.

Funds from the venue tax will go to the Frontier Texas! museum, Taylor County Expo Center and Shotwell Stadium.

The new tax will provide $400,000 annually, according to historical tax collection data.

Larry Whitten, general manager of the two Whitten Inn motels in Abilene, said that any tax improving Abilene is good for his industry.

“The more Abilene can offer, the more it will help overall,” he said.

Frontier Texas! will receive an estimated $220,000 to operate and market the fledgling museum, the Expo Center will get $100,000 for operations and capital improvement operations, and Shotwell will pave its parking lot with $80,000 it will receive.

Whitten said he is confident the small tax will not hurt or help business.

“Why do people go to Dallas instead of Abilene?” he asked. “They have more to do there.”

The East Highway 80 location of the Whitten Inn is the closest hotel to Shotwell and the Expo Center, and Whitten said he supports any efforts to improve those facilities.

Taxes collected from hotels and motels are split between Abilene and the state, which receives 6 percent. Abilene distributes 50 percent of its share to the Abilene Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, 35 percent to the Abilene Civic Center and 15 percent to the Cultural Affairs committee.

The election was called by the Abilene-Taylor County Events District Board, which was assembled to create funding for projects in the county.

The ATCEV can change the distribution of the funding in October 2005, when its current policy comes under review.