TAXING EXPERIENCE: GROUP FORMS TO BATTLE ARENA PROPOSAL

          The San Antonio tourism industry has "launched a drive"
     to raise $500,000 "to fight an expected" Spurs PR "blitz"
     for a new tax-funded arena, according to Travis Poling of
     the SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS.  The group -- Citizens For
     Responsible Spending -- "filed political action committee
     formation papers" with the TX Ethics Commission Thursday. 
     Poling noted that the group "opposes county plans to boost"
     hotel occupancy and car rental taxes to finance a $175M
     arena.  The group is expected to "actively oppose the
     `Saddles and Spurs'" campaign, which will "try to convince
     voters to approve" the increased taxes to fund a Bexar
     County plan to "build the facility on the grounds" of
     Freeman Coliseum.  Spurs Exec VP Leo Gomez, on the group: "I
     wish they'd be spending those efforts figuring out how to
     work with us instead of against us" (EXPRESS-NEWS, 8/21).