County Commissioners approve ballot language for bed tax increase

County Commissioners have approved the ballot language that voters will see when they decide whether to increase the local bed tax.

A 2 percent bed tax was approved by voters in 2005 to help promote tourism in Franklin County – it is collected from every hotel, motel and rental house in the county.

Since 2005 the tax has raised nearly 7 million dollars.

The County Commission voted earlier this month to let the voters decide in November whether to double the bed tax from 2 percent to 4 percent.

The Tourist Development Council had asked that the ballot language include a requirement that half of the increase be earmarked for national advertising.

The county Commission decided not to add that language because they felt it would limit the TDCs control over its own budget and would hamper any other uses for the money which could include upgrading local parks and infrastructure.

The ballot language was approved unanimously. 

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