A Trenton City Council member talked about the bed tax to appear on the April 7th city election ballot at the Trenton Rotary Club meeting on Thursday.
Cathie Smith represents Trenton’s Third Ward and is a member of the council’s economic development committee. She said the proposed five percent tax would be paid by individuals who stay in hotels and motels in Trenton.
The tax would be collected by the city, and a nine-member committee would determine how the money would be spent. The committee would include seven community members, a city council representative, and the city administrator. The city council would have the final approval of expenditures. The money could be used for economic development, including tourism promotion.
Smith noted Trenton would be one of the last area communities to have a bed tax if voters approve the proposal. She said Trenton does not have a hotel in operation at this time. However, an investment group is in the process of making improvements to the recently closed hotel and plans to reopen it by October 1st. The hotel has 35 rooms, and all are to be renovated.
Another group has also expressed interest in building another hotel in Trenton. Smith reported a recent hotel study showed the need for at least 45 hotel rooms at any one time during the year.
During the business meeting, Rotary members were reminded to bring a new pair of shoes for Orphans Souls by March 31st.
