A county may use public money for an economic development grant or loan agreement, and a district may hold an election and, if authorized, arrange tax payments tied to that agreement.
Sec. 382.103. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT; ELECTION; TAXES. (a) A county may enter into an agreement, only on terms and conditions the commissioners court and a board consider advisable, to make a grant or loan of public money to promote state or local economic development and to stimulate business and commercial activity in the territory where the economic development project is located, or in the district, including a grant or loan to induce the construction of a tourist destination or attraction in accordance with Chapter 380 or 381. (b) If authorized by the county, a district may order an election to be held in the district to approve a grant or loan agreement. The grant or loan may be payable over a term of years and be enforceable on the district under the terms of the agreement and the conditions of the election, which may, subject to the requirements of Section 382.153(c), include the irrevocable obligation to impose an ad valorem tax, sales and use tax, or hotel occupancy tax for a term not to exceed 30 years. If authorized at the election, the board may contract to pay the taxes to the recipient of the grant or loan in accordance with the agreement. (c) If the property owners petitioning a county to create a district under Section 382.006 propose that the district be created only to provide economic development grants or loans and road improvements and not to impose assessments, and the county determines that the creation of the district is in the best interests of the county, the district is not required to prepare a feasibility report, a service plan or assessment plan, or an assessment roll as required by Subchapter A, Chapter 372. Transferred from Local Government Code, Subchapter C, Chapter 372 and amended by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 87 (S.B. 1969), Sec. 15.009, eff. September 1, 2009.