In a late Monday evening meeting, Plano City Council voted unanimously to add several venue-related taxes to the November ballot that would help finance a city-owned sports and community arena for the Dallas Stars.
While four speakers from around Plano and beyond showed up to argue against the Dallas Stars development at the site of the current Shops at Willow Bend mall, City Council ultimately voted to add ‘Proposition A’ to the ballot, which would include a short-term motor vehicle rental tax (up to 5%), event parking tax at the venue (up to $3 per venue), event admissions tax (up to 10% of ticket price), venue facility use tax (up to $5,000 per game) and hotel occupancy tax (up to 2%).
These combined taxes would put $700 million toward the arena without increasing Plano’s property taxes.
Revenue generated from the Willow Bend Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) has not been placed on the ballot, though the City is exploring it as an option to finance the arena. The City also noted that a vote ‘against’ the proposition would not be a vote against the development.
The Plano Citizens’ Coalition is hosting a discussion on the future of the mall at the mall, open to the public on Aug. 25 at 6:30 p.m. According to the event posting, Former CEO of Centennial Group, owner of the Willow Bend Mall, Steven Levin will address the community on why the original mall plans were altered and what the current strategy entails. Following those remarks, Council members Bob Kehr and Vidal Quintanilla Jr. will take the floor to hear feedback from residents.
