More oversight demanded over tax incentives for sports, entertainment events
AUSTIN - Texas lawmakers want to crack down on the tax incentive program that has helped bring marquee events into Texas, including the Super Bowl XLV that was held in Arlington two years ago.
Several lawmakers said Wednesday that they want to see more oversight of the Major Events Trust Fund - and formal state audits to make sure money in the fund is being spent the right way - in addition to potentially limiting the number of funding requests each community can submit for these funds each year.
The issue has been in the spotlight since reports showed that millions of dollars from the fund were used to buy video scoreboards and screens at the American Airlines Center in Dallas and the Toyota Center in Houston, as officials readied the facilities for NBA All-Star Games.
"I think anyone who looked at this would feel we are handing these things out like candy," said state Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, who has proposed one of the measures.
Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/04/03/4746969/more-oversight-demanded-over-tax.html#storylink=cpy
