Tourism, arts tax may be extended

-- Suzie Harrison

A city tax levied last July on hotels and motels to promote tourism

and the arts may be extended another year.

The advisory board on the tax project is recommending the continuation

of the assessment for an additional 12 months, setting a public hearing

for May 21. City staff will send notices of a public bearing to the

city’s hotels and motels, which are subject to the assessment.

Each business will have the opportunity to protest the extension of

the tax.

At the May 21 Council meeting, any protests will be reviewed by the

City Council.

An update also will be provided about how much money the tax has

raised. Early estimates put the amount that could be raised at more than

$600,000.