T U E S D A Y
161st YEAR • NO. 148 OCTOBER 20, 2015 CLEVELAND, TN 16 PAGES • 50¢ Hotel-motel tax hike to be debated again By BRIAN GRAVES infrastructure at the new Spring ic development and tourism. He said there are a lot of ways to He said the breakdown remains 20 Banner Staff Writer Branch Industrial Park. “I think that’s a pretty significant increase revenue without a tax. percent to the general fund, while 80 Committee Chairman Milan Blake change, because if you look at it, the “The amount of the increase in this percent will go to the three categories of The Bradley County Commission’s said the new resolution is “almost like it money coming in from the hotel/motel tax is minimal and is still way inside economic development as previously Finance committee will bring a proposal was last year” which would have raised tax is funding what it should be fund- the threshold of surrounding communi- stated. to the full Commission next week to try the tax from 5 percent to 7 percent. ing,” Blake said. ties,” Rawls said. “We’re not being “There is probably going to be the again at raising the hotel/motel tax, “Last year, we created a line item for Commissioner Dan Rawls said the ridiculous here. This rate is more than need to create another fund to hold any but this time it will be strictly for eco- Lake Forest,” Blake said. “But, when it plan is “a legitimate way to do this.” competitive.” excess, because we don’t want to put it nomic development. got to Nashville, they didn’t like it and it “I think we have to look at ways to Blake said the revenue from 2014-15 in economic development or debt serv- The move comes as the county indus- didn’t pass.” generate revenue, and I find it hard to was around $951,000. ices, because then we could spend it trial board is seeking $3 million each He said the increase will now go believe education isn’t priority one,” “With the increase, it would go to from the city and county to complete toward industrial recruitment, econom- Rawls said. $1.3 million,” he said. See TAX, Page 13 County Suspects charged delays in alleged
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