Right now, we're in the embryonic stage of that process. More ideas are always welcome. Other plans for funding the expansion have included an increase in the local hotel tax, the creation of a new restaurant tax and the sale of the convention center's naming rights to a corporation. Mr. Dowlin, who opposes the idea of using the general-revenue fund to expand the convention center, said he hopes the lure of more tourism dollars will be enough to sell the sales tax credit idea to lawmakers. The state sales tax is 5 percent.
Counties have permission to add to the tax and keep the extra proceeds.
In Hamilton County, for example, the sales tax is 6 percent. State lawmakers have yet to commit to any type of state funding for the convention center. Ohio Senate President Richard Finan, R-Evendale, said the local community may have to decide what its priorities are before asking for state funding for building projects. There's only so much money. He would not say whether that decision could come down to a choice between funding for the convention center expansion or funding for stadiums.