CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The Corpus Christi City Council voted Tuesday to approve no more than $1 million in Type B funds to help build the admiral's quarters for the Chief of Naval Air Training at NAS-Corpus Christi.
But why are Corpus Christi taxes being used to build an admiral's house on a restricted base?
According to city officials, the council and the Type B board -- which is in charge of awarding money for economic development and had previously approved the funds -- decided to invest the money based on its mutually beneficial relationship with the US Navy.
"A $4.7 billion in economic impact is generated solely by Naval Station Corpus Christi, Kingsville, and the Army Depot in Texas," said asst. city manager Heather Hurlbert in an email Wednesday. "In addition, NAS and the Army Depot are essential employers in the Coastal Bend, employing nearly 8,000 personnel."
Type B funds are used for three things, according to officials: street work in support of local economic development, affordable housing, and economic development, itself.
This investment, Hurlbert said, qualifies under economic development, which is why funds of up to $1 million are on the table instead of just the $500,000 noted on the Type B board's website for affordable housing.
Type B funds are collected from .0125 percent of the city's sales tax, according to the city's website.
''We want to be a good partner to the Navy," said councilman Roland Barrera in November.
He said that he agreed with the city that spending the million is a smart way to help ensure that the Chief of Naval Air Training and his staff doesn't decide one day to move from Corpus Christi to Florida over any perceived lack of support.
The Chief of Naval Air Training, known on-base as CNATRA, is a two-star admiral with a staff of 193 military and civilian personnel who oversees all naval training, including pilots, naval flight officers, and the Blue Angels, Hurlbert said.
The original admiral's home had been around as long as NAS-CC itself, with both being put into service in 1941. In 2017, it was destroyed by Hurricane Harvey, and the home was demolished in 2022.
The new build is estimated to cost $1.55 million, with space for living quarters, as well as entertainment, and space to host meetings, dignitaries and other guests.
The city of Corpus Christi is not the only entity pledging money for the rebuild: the Port of Corpus Christi, the city of Kingsville, and Kleberg County also will be contributing to the project's plans and construction.
