Hotel Tax Increase- Dec. 14th
Everyone make sure to vote yes on this. This WILL NOT be a tax increase for us. It will only be a tax increase for those that come in from out of town to use our hotels, and most likely our facilities. Anyways, our horse facilities at State Fair Park bring in aroun $180 million a year. This is a huge boost for our local economy. Without these horse shows, our city would definitely feel the impact. But, as many of you know, our horse barns are aging and need a face lift. Just go look at Tulsa's horse barns, and you'll see how much ours really need updating.
Anyways, everyone make sure to vote on Dec. 14th.
By the way, our current hotel tax hasn't been increased in decades. We currently have one of the lowest hotel taxes in the nation. That's all good and fine, but we could raise it to more close to the national average and reap some benefits from doing so.
There was an interesting article in today's paper....here it is:
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"Horse shows earn $180 million a year for area
By Bryan Dean
The Oklahoman
Hotel tax
Voters will decide Dec. 14 whether to pass an increase in the city's hotel tax. The measure would increase the tax from 2 percent to 5.5 percent and is expected to raise $4.5 million annually. The bulk of the money would go toward improvements to the barns and stalls at the State Fair Arena.
Opposition to the tax is expected from racing enthusiasts who are concerned that the fair park's grandstand will be left out of the fair's $105 million plan.
According to a study which the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce paid for and released in August, attendees of the fair's 15 biggest horse shows:
Have a total economic impact of $181,853,607.
Bring $48,774,880 to the city's hotel industry.
Pay $30,484,300 for food and drinks.
Spend $19,953,360 on retail and entertainment.
Provide support for 3,621 jobs.
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A shared passion motivates Brenda Porter and Chanda Smith to do things they don't enjoy.
Things like hauling a trailer across the country, paying for the gas, lodging, insurance and other expenses that come with showing horses. But like the other competitors at the American Quarter Horse Championship Show, they make sacrifices.
"It's the love of the animals and the love of the people -- kindred spirits," Porter said.
More than 1,300 people and 2,000 horses are in Oklahoma City through Saturday for the competition -- one of about 30 a year at State Fair Park that officials say generate more than $180 million a year to the area economy.
The Quarter Horse Championship Show is the culmination of a year of travel and work to qualify for the chance to compete on the biggest stage in the sport.
Many call it a hobby. But the amount of time, money and energy they invest suggests more.
Porter and Smith, both of Wichita Falls, Texas, said they spend about two or three hours a day taking care of their horses. The 12-15 shows they attend every year each consume about a week of their time, and plenty of money.
"With the horse trailer, the entry fees, lodging, meals, insurance -- it gets quite expensive," Porter said.
Carol and Roy Davis of Milan, Tenn., said many people spend thousands of dollars on their horses -- a requirement to reach the top.
The competitors here come from 49 states and six countries. Some have large ranches and private fortunes worth millions of dollars. Others spend more on their horses than on themselves.
"You have got to love horses to do this," Carol Davis said. "It's a relationship that you don't understand until you become a horse lover."
You start to understand it when you look at Porter's eyes as she meticulously brushes her horse for an official picture. Smith and Porter raised the 9-month-old filly, SMS Devine Elegance, or Elly for short. They are like proud parents primping their baby for her first family photo.
"The showing is fun, but it's fun just knowing that on a daily basis they are a part of your life," Smith said. "You take care of them and love them, and you go to a show and you get to show them off."
A sense of community binds the competitors as they prepare their horses in the barns adjacent to the arena. Many know one another from previous shows.
Ray Davis said in the year or so that he and his wife, Carol, have been competing, they have made friends throughout the Southeast.
"The people that go to these horse shows, especially the big ones, are some of the finest people in America," Ray Davis said.
The competition is fierce. With more than $2 million in cash and prizes at stake, everyone wants to win.
But Carol Davis said the attitude changes when the competition is over.
"You have this in common," she said. "Everybody is just friendly, and you just kind of take care of each other."
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