Politicians making their way through El Paso along the campaign trail may soon be asked to pay up front.
The El Paso City Council is set to take up a proposal from city Rep. Lily Limon on Tuesday, June 9, which would require politicians campaigning in El Paso to cover venue and public safety costs in advance of any campaign event.
The proposal comes after President Donald Trump appeared in El Paso in 2019 — to date, he has not paid the city for the more than half-a-million dollars in expenses he racked up.
“After the Trump campaign visit, the city was left with a bill for approximately $600,000,” Limon wrote in a document accompanying Tuesday’s agenda. “Attempts were made to collect the cost, but no payment was ever received. The city allowed the Trump campaign to hold a rally, yet a contract was never written to cover the costs incumbered. This action will prevent other campaigns from coming to the city, using our resources and then passing those costs to the taxpayers.”
If approved, city staff would return in 60 days with a formal policy for adoption by the City Council.
New taxes for short-term rentals
Also on Tuesday’s agenda is a proposal from city Reps. Art Fierro and Deanna Maldonado-Rocha to allow the city to begin collecting hotel occupancy taxes (HOT) on short-term rentals.
The city first took action on short-term rentals in January 2023, sparking a fierce backlash from short-term property owners and the El Paso Chamber, both of which asserted that new regulations would hurt property owners.
However, in the resolution accompanying Tuesday’s agenda, city leaders asserted that “short-term rentals provide lodging accommodations similar to hotels, motels, and traditional hospitality businesses operating within the city” and therefore “collecting HOT on short-term rentals ensures equitable tax collection among all lodging providers.”
The city would begin collecting hotel-occupancy taxes on short-term rentals “no earlier than ninety (90) days and no later than (180) days” after the proposal is approved.
Adam Powell covers government and politics for the El Paso Times and can be reached via email at apowell@elpasotimes.com.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso City Council to mull campaign cash upfront for rallies
Reporting by Adam Powell, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
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By Adam Powell, El Paso Times | USA TODAY Network
