The political action committee pushing Plano voters to approve Proposition A has raised more than $1 million, nearly all of it from the Dallas Stars, according to the latest campaign finance records reported Tuesday by The Dallas Morning News.
Victory Green Plano, the PAC backed by the NHL team's corporate entity, received more than $980,000 directly from the Stars. Its opponent, the resident-formed Stop the Stars Arena committee, has raised roughly $13,000 from a few dozen Plano residents.
What is on the ballot
Proposition A asks voters to authorize up to five taxes that could help pay for a city-owned arena the Stars would lease at The Shops at Willow Bend. The taxes would apply to parking, event tickets, hotel rooms, car rentals and major league players who use the arena. If the measure passes, the City Council would choose which of them to levy.
City officials have tied the project to a $700 million contribution from Plano, and the venue taxes could help cover that cost.
How the money is being spent
The News reported that Victory Green Plano has spent more than $800,000, paying for text messages, billboards, online ads and mailers. Other donors listed in the records include HNTB, the firm the Stars picked to design the arena, which gave $15,000 through a political committee, and Winstead PC, a law firm that has represented the team, which gave $10,000.
Stop the Stars Arena reports spending about $5,800 on yard signs, flyers, a website, text messages and an event.
