Commissioners vote to negotiate ROT Rally contract, TCAD booted

The Travis Central Appraisal District was fighting to use the Travis County Expo Center for business matters from May until August of next year, which would conflict with ROT Rally dates in June.

Event organizers of the biker rally argued the city would lose tens of thousands of dollars if they left Austin.

Commissioners voted 3-to-2 to move forward with contract negotiations and let ROT Rally organizers use the Travis County Expo Center the weekend of June 13 through June 16. Event organizers also agreed to the $20,000 rent increase.

The TCAD will now have to find another location, which they say will be an inconvenience for them and taxpayers.

“The volume of protests we've been getting annually just makes it more difficult to fulfill our statutory requirement to hear all protests. Not having the facilities that enable us to do that, means we will have to make some adjustments for next year,” said Marya Crigler, chief appraiser, TCAD.

“We're happy, the vote went our way, we get to stay in Austin, which is what we've always wanted to do,” said Jerry Bragg, president of ROT Rally.

ROT Rally organizers have not yet signed a contract. They will now negotiate a new contract with county staff.