LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                                   Austin, Texas
         
                                   FISCAL NOTE
                               75th Regular Session
         
                                  April 7, 1997
         
         
      TO: Honorable Tom Craddick, Chair            IN RE:  House Bill No. 3043, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
          Committee on Ways & Means                              By: Gallego
          House
          Austin, Texas
         
         
         
         
         FROM:  John Keel, Director    
         
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on HB3043 ( Relating 
to the authority of certain counties to impose a county hotel 
occupancy tax.) this office has determined the following:) this 
office has detemined the following:
         
         Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by HB3043-Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
         
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
         

         
 
Fiscal Analysis
 
The bill would amend Chapter 352 of the Tax Code to authorize 
a county that borders the Republic of Mexico and in which there 
is a national park of greater than 400,000 acres to impose a 
county hotel occupancy tax.  The tax would be limited to 3 percent 
of the price paid for a room in a hotel.  Once authorized, the 
county commissioners court could enact the tax by adoption of 
an order or resolution.  The county would be required to use 
one-third of the revenues from the tax in unincorporated areas 
of the county.

The bill would authorize a county that borders 
the Republic of Mexico and in which there is a state park with 
greater than 250,000 acres to impose a county hotel occupancy 
tax.  The tax would be limited to 5 percent of the price paid 
for a room in a hotel.  Once authorized, the county commissioners 
court could enact the tax by adoption of an order or resolution.

The 
bill would become effective immediately upon enactment, assuming 
that it received the requisite two-thirds majority votes in 
both houses of the Legislature.  Otherwise, it would become 
effective 90 days after adjournment.
 
Methodolgy
 
The bill would affect Brewster County and Presidio County.  
To determine the revenue gain to Brewster County, the most recent 
county hotel gross receipts data were obtained from Comptroller 
tax files.  The data were multiplied by 3 percent, the maximum 
tax rate the county could impose.

To determine the revenue 
gain to Presidio County, the most recent county hotel gross 
receipts data were obtained from Comptroller tax files.  The 
data were multiplied by 5 percent, the maximum tax rate a county 
could impose.
The probable fiscal implications of implementing the provisions 
of the bill during each of the first five years following passage 
is estimated as follows:
 
Five Year Impact:
 
Fiscal Year Probable Revenue   Probable Revenue   
            Gain/(Loss) to     Gain/(Loss) to                                                             
            Brewster County    Presidio County                                                            
            (at the maximum    (at the maximum                                                            
            3% rate)           5% rate)                                                                   
            LOCAL              LOCAL                                                                       
       1998          $167,000           $32,500                                                      
       1998           167,000            32,500                                                      
       2000           167,000            32,500                                                      
       2001           167,000            32,500                                                      
       2002           167,000            32,500                                                      
 
 
         Net Impact on General Revenue Related Funds:
 
The probable fiscal implication to General Revenue related funds 
during each of the first five years is estimated as follows:
 
              Fiscal Year      Probable Net Postive/(Negative)
                               General Revenue Related Funds
                                             Funds
               1998                   $0
               1999                    0
               2000                    0
               2001                    0
               2002                    0
 
Similar annual fiscal implications would continue as long as 
the provisions of the bill are in effect.
          
   Source:            Agencies:   304   Comptroller of Public Accounts
                                         
                      LBB Staff:   JK ,RR ,SM