Antiques Show Taxes
To The Editor:
The Round Top Antique Show creates a positive image of Fayette County and is worth every penny spent by the county. The comment by Commissioner Berckenhoff comparing the antique show to the Real Deal demonstrates that at least some public officials do not understand economic development and how it attracts visitors and investment that creates jobs.
Regarding sales tax data, it is paid 2 months after the month collected. Sales taxes collected in Round Top in 2024 shows that an additional $116,000 was collected from the two antique shows. The county collected one third of this amount, or about $38,000.
The information reported by The Fayette County Record for the first 10 months of 2025 shows that Little One Square Mile Round Top is just above Flatonia’s sales tax collection and is 37% of Schulenberg’s sales tax collection. It’s important to consider that most sales taxes collected in cities and counties are from their own citizens.
From an Economic Development perspective, it’s an advantage to collect sales taxes from people who DO NOT live in the county. The Antique Show puts Round Top and Fayette County on the map in the United States and attracts thousands of visitors from outside of Fayette County. These visitors spend money in retail locations, short term rentals and hotels in Round Top, La Grange, Fayetteville and Carmine.
Many Fayette County residents are show vendors and earn extra income at their location, or when working for others. The Round Top Antique Show is one of the best things that has ever happened to Fayette County. Many of the vendors decide to locate here permanently. The Compound, Big Red Barn, Paul Michael, Blue Hills, The Horseshoe, and Richard Schmidt have all opened locations in the Round Top area.
Additionally, some of the best lodging, restaurants and bars in Fayette County are in the Round Top area. Employment in Fayette County has gone from 12,570 in 2014 to 10,261 in 2024.At least Round Top and the surrounding area is adding new businesses, jobs and opportunity for the citizens of Fayette County.
Barry Bone Round Top