The Orange City Council will meet Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. to decide which organizations and businesses will get thousands of dollars from Hotel Occupancy Tax. The meeting is at the council auditorium next to the library, 205 Fifth Street.
The Hotel Occupancy Tax is charged to people who stay in hotels and motels as a percentage of the daily rate. The city has a 7 percent tax and the state has a 6 percent tax.
The use of the money is designated for specific uses including historical preservation, support of the arts, and promotion of the tourist industry. Festivals and special events, including sports events, that attract out-of-town visitors. Advertising for events and tourist-related businesses also qualify.
Most of the city’s 2026-27 HOT money will be spent on running the city’s Convention and Visitors Bureau under director Jay Trahan, who is also the city’s economic development corporation director. The CVB budget is $685,602. The budget total proposed for city council approval is $1.08 million.
A total of $78,000 is allocated to the Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce, which will use the money to sponsor another Bassmaster Elite fishing tournament in April 2027 with the accompanying Sabine River Festival. Orange has had record-setting crowds for previous Elite tournaments.
The CVB board recommendations are:
(1) Friends of the Orange Depot $ 5,000
(2) Orange Film and Arts Festival $7,000
(3) Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce-Mardi Gras $8,000
(4) Orange Lions Club Charity Carnival-Convention $5,000
(5) Orange Lions Club Charity Carnival-Carnival $11,000
(6) Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce-Fishing Tournament $70,000
(7) Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce – River Festival $8,000
(8) Lutcher Theater for the Performing Arts $75,000
(9) United Way of Orange County $8,500
(10) Orangefield Little Dribblers Inc. $55,000
(11) Barefoot on the Bayou Film Group $1,500
(12) Sabine Story Foundation 0
(13) Step Forward Treatment Center $2,500
(14) Ascend Community Group $2,500
(15) Gulf Coast Cajuns of the CFMA $5,000
(16) Dragon Lady Airboat Services $4,000
(17) Adventures 2000 Plus $4,000
(18) Avenue Axe LLC $20,000
(19) Orange Community Players $10,000
(20) Krewe de Onyx $30,000
(21) Texas Stage LLC $20,000
(22) Heritage House of Orange County $35,000
(23) Southeast Texas Arts Council $500
(24) Indafam Promotions $5,000
(25) Yoga Vibe Studio $3,500
(26) Golden Triangle Alphas-Community Event 0
(27) Golden Triangle Alphas-Greek Picnic $2,000
(28) CVB Budget $685,602
Members of the city council-appointed board are Meagan Layne, director of the Orange County Economic Development Corporation; Brittany Chandler, executive pastor at New Life Church and spouse of City Councilor Matt Chandler; The Reverend Ronnie A.E. Crockett Sr., pastor at Mount Olive Baptist Church; Rusty Dollar, lead pastor of North Orange Baptist Church; Kimberly Manning, a professional photographer and president of the City of Orange Economic Development Corporation; Trisha Spears, an aide for the Orangefield school district and spouse of Mayor Larry Spears Jr.; and Russell Bottley, a coach at West Orange-Stark High School.
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