State’s events funds criticized

There wasn’t much dissent when millions in state funding was used to offset expenses for events like Super Bowl XLV and last year’s NCAA Men’s Final Four basketball tournament, both held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

But some grants from the state’s Events Trust Fund and Major Events Trust Fund, designed to help lure activities and tourists from other states, have been questioned because critics say they have subsidized some annual events that were in no danger of leaving Texas.

Gov. Greg Abbott and Comptroller Glenn Hegar say they plan to remedy any accountability problems by asking the Legislature to move the funds to the governor’s office, which oversees the state’s other incentive programs.

Transferring control from one statewide officeholder to another does not in itself ensure accountability.

If changes are needed, lawmakers should examine the programs, draw up a clear set of guidelines under which organizations and government entities can apply, and devise an effective system to measure the financial impact of the state’s investments.

This story was originally published February 18, 2015 at 5:56 PM with the headline "State’s events funds criticized."