Kilgore, TX —  City council members decided Tuesday that tax money left by out-of-towners can support the Kilgore Rangerettes despite local objections that many members of the dance team are from out of town.

“It’s not city revenue,” Councilman Harvey McClendon said, shortly before the council voted, on a rare motion by Mayor Ronnie Spradlin, to contribute $15,000 in hotel/motel tax money to the annual Rangerette Revels show.

Hotel/motel taxes are paid as part of guests’ nightly inn charges. Texas law allows cities to collect the fee for uses promoting tourism.

“The Rangerettes do encourage tourism,” McClendon said. “And I don’t think there’s any question (of that).”

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