From the Indianapolis Star:
Two Johnson County officials on Monday asked fellow council members to adopt a 5 percent tax on hotel guests that would fund tourism efforts.
Anita Knowles and Loren Snyder introduced the measure to institute the innkeeper's tax at the Johnson County Council meeting. No vote will be taken at that meeting.
"We need to market Johnson County," Snyder said.
Marketing is critical to the county's growth and economic development, Snyder told a crowd of about 60 people at the council meeting.
The state gives counties the power to collect the tax of up to 5 percent, which must be spent to promote local tourism through brochures, websites, advertising, billboards and similar marketing efforts.
In the nine-county metropolitan area, only Johnson County is without a hotel tax that funds a convention and visitors bureau.
Johnson County officials considered the innkeeper's tax four years ago, but the measure failed after council members disagreed over whether some of the money should be spent on parks. Using hotel tax money for non-tourism expenses requires approval of state lawmakers.
http://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/johnson-county/2013/12/02/johnson-county-could-join-neighbors-in-adopting-hotel-tax/3819217/
