Grayson commissioners seek airport tax, approve tower grant bid

SHERMAN, Texas — Grayson County commissioners voted Oct. 20 to ask state lawmakers for authority to levy a county hotel occupancy tax that could support North Texas Regional Airport. They also approved submitting a federal grant application for air traffic control tower improvements, according to KXII's report from the meeting. Neither action creates a tax or awards a grant. The county cannot establish the hotel tax on its own. Precinct 1 Commissioner Josh Marr told KXII that the Legislature must first pass a local bill and the county would then have to act under that authority. The proposal would apply to short-term lodging, including hotels and vacation rentals. It could add a county levy of up to 7% in unincorporated areas or 2% in cities that already collect a local hotel tax, according to Marr's explanation. Those are proposed rates, not charges currently in effect. Marr said revenue from the tax would be restricted to tourism-related uses at the airport. He estimated the levy could have generated about $1.2 million toward the end of last year if it had existed; that is his estimate, not a budgeted receipt. He said using lodging revenue for airport work could free county general-fund money for other services. Commissioners separately authorized an application for federal money to update tower equipment and replace aging windows. County Judge Bruce Dawsey told KXII a possible award could be as much as $1.1 million and said airport budget money could cover a match if one is required. The posted agenda listed a higher application ceiling of $1.55 million; the final request amount should be confirmed from county records. The next steps are a grant decision by federal officials and state legislative action on the tax request. Construction and tax collection would require later approvals.