SURVEY SHOWS TEXANS NOT READY TO ANTE UP FOR FACILITIES

          A statewide poll found that a majority of Texans
     surveyed "oppose using tax dollars to pay for facilities for
     professional or amateur sports teams," according to Mede Nix
     of the FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM.  The telephone poll of 1,000
     Texans, which was conducted April 21-May 2 by the Univ. of
     TX, asked, "How much do you favor or oppose using tax
     dollars to help pay for arenas or stadiums for professional
     or amateur sports teams?"  Only 20% said they favor or
     strongly favor using tax dollars to pay for facilities, 76%
     oppose or strongly oppose such a plan.  The poll also found
     that two-thirds of those surveyed "opposed using new levies,
     such as higher car rental taxes or hotel taxes" to pay for
     sports facilities; and 30% favored the use of new taxes for
     sports facilities.  Broken down by age, 61% of 18-to-29
     year-olds opposed using taxes for stadiums, while 84% of
     "older Texans" oppose the idea (STAR-TELEGRAM, 5/12).