Norman City Council will propose election to raise guest room tax

Members of the Norman City Council will consider Tuesday a resolution calling for a special election to increase the hotel/motel room tax by 1 percent.

FROM STAFF REPORTS | Published: January 22, 2013 Comment on this article

NORMAN — City council members will consider a resolution Tuesday calling an April 2 special election to increase the city's hotel/motel room tax.

The council meets at 6:30 p.m. in the Municipal Building's council chambers, 201 W Gray St.

The resolution proposes raising the tax by 1 percent, which would bring Norman's total guest room tax to 5 percent.

Currently at 4 percent, the room tax is divided among the convention and visitors bureau, which gets 50 percent of the money; the arts, which gets 25 percent; and parks, which gets 25 percent. The proposed resolution recommends that the division remain the same.

Oklahoma City has a 5.5 percent hotel/motel room tax, and most city council members have said they prefer that Norman's rate remain below that level to give the city a competitive edge.