$25 million in state funding for F1’s new US grand prix in Austin is in doubt.
The Texas State Senate’s finance committee has voted 10-4 to pull the package to assist the development of the under-construction Circuit of the Americas, local KXAN news reports.
"At a time when people are stressed about their schools, stressed about their jobs, stressed about health care and nursing homes, for us to check off $25 million for race cars, I think we make people say where are their priorities," senator Dan Patrick said.
"That $25 million would pay for 500 teacher salaries," he added. "How can we explain to people we’re spending that money on race cars?"
But the amendment is only to the senate version of the forthcoming state budget, not the version in the House of Representatives.
The media report said it is likely "most if not all of the incentives" will ultimately be restored.