January 30, 2019 - 1:33 PM
NEW ORLEANS - The Latest on a research group's recommendation for possibly raising and re-directing revenue from hotel taxes in New Orleans to provide more money for infrastructure needs (all times local):
3 p.m.
A political group supporting New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell is welcoming a research group's recommendation that the city get more money from hotel room taxes.
Wednesday's Bureau of Governmental Research report says the city should get the equivalent of an added 1 per cent increase in hotel taxes to address infrastructure needs. It suggests that could be accomplished partly by raising the hotel tax, and partly by redirecting some existing hotel tax revenue.
The head of a major city tourism organization has opposed redirecting hotel tax revenue. In a statement Wednesday, Steve Perry stressed the importance to city tourism of the Superdome and the Morial Convention Center — both of which get hotel tax revenue. Perry also said a full 1 per cent hotel tax could put the city at a competitive disadvantage.
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10 a.m.
An independent research group is recommending changes in the collection and distribution of hotel room tax revenue in tourism-dependent New Orleans.
If implemented, the changes would bring an estimated $12.3 million annually to the city's budget.
Wednesday's recommendation from the non-profit Bureau of Governmental Research feeds into an ongoing debate among, Mayor LaToya Cantrell's administration, tourism leaders and state lawmakers. Cantrell wants the city to get a bigger share of hotel tax revenue that now goes mostly to tourism-related programs and structures, such as the Superdome.
BGR says city government should get what amounts to a 1 per cent increase in the hotel tax. It suggests that could be accomplished partly by slightly raising the hotel room tax, and partly by redirecting some existing hotel tax revenue.
News from © The Associated Press, 2019