Council Committee Holds Nose and Votes for Hotel Tax Increase
It was a vote nobody wanted, but by 5-1, the City-County Council Rules and Policy Committee moved forward tonight with a plan that would increase the local hotel tax by one percent to help bail out the Capitol Improvement Board.
Republicans dominated the committee but each one said they were not crazy about raising the tax, but it was the only option given to them by General Assembly. Democrat Angela Mansfield was the only “no” vote. Democrats Joanne Sanders and Monroe Gray were not at the meeting.
Republican At-large member Barb Malone said while she would vote to get the measure to the full Council, she said there was no guarantee she would vote for the measure once it got there. And committee Chairman Bob Lutz said there was a 50-50 chance the measure would pass the full council.
Lutz said the City was dealt a bad hand by the General Assembly and it was the only hand they had to play. If the full Council passes the measures it opens the door to other state funding for the CIB.
Opponents of the measure offered their criticism of plan but short of calling for bankruptcy, which state law does not allow, they were short on alternatives to the current proposal.
You can hear interviews with all three Councilors below. A full Council vote is slated for next month.
