The Cedar Park Tourism Board is expecting an increase in both revenue and expenditures for fiscal year 2018-2019, as shown in a proposed board budget presented by city staff at a meeting July 24.

The estimated total revenue for the next fiscal year is approximately $1.12 million, nearly a $320,000 increase from the budgeted revenue for FY 2017-18, according to city documents. Revenue from hotel occupancy taxes could be the main contributor and is estimated to bring around $1.10 million to the board.

The tourism board expects to spend around $947,000 in FY 2018-19 for marketing and advertising, event marketing, public arts, tourism development, tourism staff and administrative support, the proposed budget shows. The budgeted expenditures for FY 2017-18 total around $654,000.



During the meeting, board members decided to take spending for the Austin Steam Train Association off the proposed budget because Tourism Board Member Robert Schoen is involved with the organization. If the board kept the item on the list, Schoen would have to recuse himself from the vote, Cedar Park Tourism Manager April Bear said, but then the board would not have a quorum to vote on the proposed budget.

The proposed budget was recommended by the board, excluding any funding for sponsorships with the Austin Steam Train Association, and will be submitted to the Cedar Park City Council for final approval. Cedar Park Budget Manager Matthew Lee said during the meeting that the council will have the opportunity to include the Austin Steam Train Association sponsorship in the FY 2018-19 budget as a staff recommendation.