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Downtown Austin Prepares For Economic Boost From Legislative Session


This may be the one time taxpayers are okay seeing their lawmakers spend money.  According to the Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau, state lawmakers, their staff and visitors will spend more than $13 million in Austin during the legislative session.

The expenses include the cost of living and the cost of their offices doing business.

It’s a welcome sign when the legislative session is near.  Mark Yazbeck, the store manager at Jos. A. Banks downtown says he sees lawmakers months before the session begins.  “You know they start coming in, getting ready for the session.  And definitely, being in the clothing business and selling suits, it's absolutely great."

And we're not just talking about the lawmakers being back in town.  There's staff and support.  According to the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau, 20,000 people come to visit the lawmakers when they're in session in Austin.

Including housing, the lawmakers, staff and visitors will spend more than $13 million in Austin during this session.  Those are welcome dollars during what would have been a slow period.  Monica Brown with Annie’s Café says, “When the lawmakers come back it's going to bring a lot more people that are a lot hungrier and away from home and they're definitely going to spend more money."

By Fred Cantu