Council approves HOT funding requests

By Melissa McCaghren

Slatonite GM

Four groups that help Slaton tourism and its economy will benefit from extra Hotel Occupancy Taxes (HOT) awarded by the City Commissioners Monday evening (Aug. 8) during its monthly meeting.

Interim City Administrator Mike Lamberson said each year the HOT funds are collected and can be used for certain areas, such as advertising and promotion.

Because they can’t be carried over from the previous year, they are then doled out to places that promote Slaton.

He added there is $6,000 that look to be left.

Groups benefitting will be the Chamber of Commerce – $2,500, Harvey House – $1,000, Slaton Museum – $1,000 and Texas Air Museum – $1,500.

Council members also approved the Lubbock Emergency Communication District Budget for Fiscal Year 2021-22.

Lamberson said last year the budget was $3,350,375, and are requesting a budget of $3,311,024, which is down from last year.

“This is what runs our emergency system here, 911 and everything else,” he said. “That takes care of operations of our 911 system in the Lubbock area and each entity has to approve their budget.”

For more information, please pick up a copy of this week’s Slatonite.