RESOLUTION NO. 10 OF 2014

BY THE CADDO PARISH COMMISSION:

RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF STATE LEGISLATION AUTHORIZING A TAX TO BE LEVIED OF UP TO 2.5 PERCENT ON EACH HOTEL OR MOTEL ROOM IN CADDO AND BOSSIER PARISHES

WHEREAS, the Independence Bowl Game is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) football competition to be held at Independence Stadium, each year in late December in Shreveport, Louisiana.

WHEREAS, the Independence Bowl Game is estimated to have an annual economic impact of approximately ten million dollars; and

WHEREAS, the Independence Bowl is the 11th-oldest bowl game of the 38 games currently making up post-season college football, is televised to a national audience on ESPN, and has become a major economic driver for businesses in the Shreveport-Bossier area, including but not limited to regional hotels, restaurants and catering businesses; and

WHEREAS, the Independence Bowl endeavors to work with the cities of Shreveport and Bossier City as well as the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission in an effort to bring in additional college football regular-season games to be played in Independence Stadium, as well as non-sporting events.

WHEREAS, the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission works to bring additional sporting events to Shreveport Bossier throughout the year; and

WHEREAS, the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission needs additional sustained funding in order to continue bringing sporting events to Shreveport-Bossier which generate substantial revenue for the area; and

WHEREAS, a 2.5 percent increase in the tax would pose a minimum burden on those to be assessed.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Caddo Parish Commission in due, regular and legal session convened, that it does hereby:

Support state legislation authorizing a tax to be levied of up to 2.5 percent on each hotel or motel room in Caddo and Bossier Parishes, which increases the current hotel-motel occupancy tax in Caddo and Bossier parishes by 2.5 percent, with 37.5% allocated to the Regional Airport Service Alliance, 37.5% allocated to the Independence Bowl/Independence Bowl Foundation and 25% allocated to the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that if any provision or item of this resolution or the application thereof is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions, items or applications which can be given effect without the invalid provisions, items or applications, and to this end, the provisions of this resolution are hereby declared severable.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all resolutions or parts thereof in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.

Approved as to legal form:

______Parish Attorney ______Date