Northern Kentucky tourism officials, hotel owners and business leaders are touting the bill by saying more convention business in Cincinnati will benefit Northern Kentucky hotels, restaurants and retailers. Mr. Fay said some of the opposition to the bill may be fueled by misunderstandings about the legislation. The provision that allows the hotel tax to be raised from 4 percent to 5 percent is actually an amendment to a bill filed by Rep. Charlie Geveden, D-Wickliffe, that would allow several cities around the state to raise or implement a hotel tax. Neither the bill nor the amendment actually raises taxes, Mr. Callahan said. In Northern Kentucky, actually raising the tax will be left to the fiscal courts in Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties.
Some lawmakers have ex pressed concern about raising taxes in Kentucky to help a Cincinnati project.
But Mr. Fay said the money raised by the increase will would go toward marketing and promoting the entire region. This tax won't be going toward brick and mortar. It will be used to increase the marketing for the expanded convention center, and that will help bring more people into the area and into Northern Kentucky. The Cincinnati Enquirer , a Gannett Co. Inc. newspaper.