Arguing that upgrades to the AT&T Center are necessary to remain competitive in today's NBA, the San Antonio Spurs want Bexar County taxpayers to reauthorize the "venue tax" that built the arena.
County Judge Nelson Wolff agrees that the four-time champions should get part of the renewed revenue stream ? pending voter approval ? along with the San Antonio River Improvement Project, amateur sports fields and a new performing arts center.
The venue tax on hotel rooms and car rentals is set to expire when the AT&T Center is paid off, sometime between 2009 and 2012.
The Spurs have a $164 million wish list of projects for the arena ? built five years ago for $193.5 million from mostly public money ? but team management is working with the Commissioners Court to whittle that amount to between $75 million and $100 million.