1. Because the SCVB gets all of its funding from a bed tax, it now is taking a second look at that event. 2. By dropping the statewide bed tax, proponents also expect more lawmakers from outside Maricopa County to support the legislation. 3. Councilman Hal Bernson came up with the proposal to have the city lend the money to the Host Committee as well as the temporary increase in the bed tax. 4. Suggestions for financing the project have included raising the hotel bed tax. 5. Association state chief executive David Charles said hoteliers still considered the bed tax inequitable. 6. Baird said the industry was opposed to any bed tax and an increase in departure tax. 7. Meanwhile, a dispute intensified between Coates and a state government minister about the controversial hotel bed tax, which has caused sponsorship problems for Games organizers. 8. The International Olympic Committee told the Sydney Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games on Monday that its controversial bed tax was its own concern. 9. Vander Weide noted the arena package in Charlotte would have established new taxes on car rentals and tickets, and reallocated the existing bed tax. 10. The tourism industry was exploring options for launching a legal challenge to the bed tax, he said. |