Del Rio Council Approves $10,000 for Border Classic Cookoff and Roping Event

The Del Rio City Council voted unanimously on March 10 to authorize up to $10,000 in hotel occupancy tax funds for the Border Classic Cookoff/Team Roping event, which took place last weekend at an estimated $10,000 investment from the city.

The ordinance directed HOT funds, collected from guests staying in Del Rio hotels and legally restricted to uses that promote tourism and the hotel industry, toward the two-day event held March 27–28. Hotel occupancy tax expenditures require city council approval by ordinance under Texas law, making the unanimous March 10 vote the formal mechanism that unlocked the funding.

The Border Classic Cookoff and Team Roping draws competitors and spectators from across the region, the kind of event HOT fund allocations are specifically designed to support by bringing overnight visitors to Del Rio and filling local hotel rooms. The council's 13-day window between approval and the event's opening day left organizers a narrow runway to finalize logistics with the city's financial backing confirmed.

The unanimous vote signals broad council support for using tourism dollars to back competitive events that blend cooking and rodeo traditions, both deeply embedded in Val Verde County culture. With the event now concluded, the $10,000 expenditure will be reconciled against actual costs, with the ordinance authorizing up to that amount rather than a fixed disbursement.