Dallas’ Prop A Adds Tourism Tax to Fund Convention Center, Fair Park Improvements

Dallas voters are being asked to approve an additional tourism tax that would fund the revitalization of two of the city’s biggest attractions, Fair Park and the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center.

The increased tax of 2% to anyone renting a hotel room in the city is expected to raise $1.5 billion in 30 years to repay the bonds used to fund the project.

If approved the hotel occupancy tax would be increased from 13% to 15%. The Dallas Morning News reports that 7% of the current tax goes to the city with the other 6% being handed over to the state. The additional tax would increase the city’s cut to 9%.

Supporters of the plan say bringing improvements to Fair Park and the convention center could create more than 50,000 jobs and “bring our beloved Fair Park into the 21st century with $300 million worth of renovations and repairs, double the capacity and expected revenue of the KBHCCD with a $1.2 billion investment in the expansion, and ensure that we draw the very best A-list performers, events and conventions to these reimagined and improved venues.”

In Fair Park, the Automobile Building, the Centennial Building, the Band Shell, the Music Hall, the Cotton Bowl and the Coliseum are all slated for improvements.

NBC 5 reported in February 2022 that if the tax is approved the new convention center building could be ready by 2026.

Read more about Prop A here.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Results from Dallas’ Prop A vote will be embedded in this story after the polls close Tuesday night.