COLUMBIA, MO. -- Columbia city leaders are considering an increase on their city’s hotel and motel lodging tax from 4% to 7%.
Money from the additional taxes would pay for a new terminal at the Columbia Regional Airport.
Right now, the airport terminal can only handle about 50 passengers at a time.
The airport would need a larger terminal to support a second commercial airline.
City leaders say the cost of a new terminal is about $17 million.
Council members want to make sure their 7% lodging tax proposal meets state requirements before sending it to voters.
Columbia Mayor Bob McDavid said, “There is state legislation that limits hotel occupancy taxes at 5% for our convention centers. It’s not clear if it limits it for airport terminals or not. We need to clarify it, so if it is a route that we go, we have no legislative obstacles on the way.”
Council members will also talk about the approval of a new surveillance camera for Downtown Columbia.
Members of a group called “Keep Columbia Safe” want to donate $3,000 for a camera near the Cherry Street Parking Garage.
That’s the garage where a Columbia man was brutally attacked by teenagers in 2009.
Council members are not expected to take any final action on the camera purchase during tonight’s meeting at 7:00 p.m. at Columbia City Hall.
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