Norman City Council OKs vote on guest room tax hike

Gallagher said he favors the tax mainly because it would help the parks department.

“We have parks needing maintenance on a daily basis. Hope this helps in that area,” he said.

Councilman Dave Spaulding said he was not entirely sure the tax hike was necessary “but I seem to be in the minority. I appreciate input from the hoteliers who are in favor of this, so I will take their word for it.”

Mayor Cindy Rosenthal said the arts community has a stake in the tax hike proposal, especially with funding cuts to the arts threatened on the state level.

A bill filed in the Oklahoma House by Rep. Josh Cockroft, R-Tecumseh, proposes all funding to the Oklahoma Arts Council be eliminated. The legislation, if approved, would reduce state funding to the council each fiscal year by 25 percent of the current funding level, eventually ending the appropriation in 2017.

The April 2 election coincides with a city election for mayor and four council seats. If approved, the new tax rate would go into effect May 1.