Jefferson City Council ponders key concept before lodging tax vote

Sunday, November 28, 2010

While the Jefferson City Council unanimously voted to place a four-cent increase of the city’s lodging tax on the February 2011 ballot for a conference center, there are still several lingering questions.

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The biggest question centers around the “lockbox” concept that 3rd Ward Councilman Bob Scrivner first brought up at Monday night’s special council meeting. His plan would be to take the money from the tax increase, if passed by Jefferson City voters, and put it away until a conference center plan is more firmly established.

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RetiredOne 2 years, 5 months ago

Vote NO. The City does not need to be in the convention business. It needs to be funded, planned, and managed by a private business. We do not have a Hooters Restaurant here in Jefferson City either. Perhaps the City build one of these also?

JCLifer 2 years, 5 months ago

VOTE NO!

I'd much rather have a Hooters in Jefferson City than a taxpayer-funded convention center. At least with Hooters we know what we will get. The City has been talking about a convention center for over 20 years and they still don't have any idea what they want or how to build it.

The hotel occupancy rate is very low in Jefferson City as it is. The city has no business building another hotel with our tax dollars to compete with all the private hotels that already exist.

This is a wild pipe dream of a council and mayor wanting to build a monument to themselves. What they don't tell you is that a convention center will be a never-ending drain on our tax dollars. It will take city general revenue to keep the thing operating, and it will always lose money.

VOTE NO!

Moblogger 2 years, 5 months ago

J.C. is the state capitol and behind the times on most everything.

Go figure huh?

herewego 2 years, 5 months ago

Behind the times? We can't even have electronic signs!

Moblogger 2 years, 5 months ago

Well from reading the complaints on this paper over time J.C. as a City is far behind the trend.

No City Commissions for various things and concerns Lack of serious bus services and always I hear complaining about the service Lack of convention accommodations and more.

Time to come into the 21st Century J.C. since you are the capitol city of this state.

JCLifer 2 years, 5 months ago

Build a convention center, but not this little thing. If you build it, at least have exhibition space for concerts, etc. Should seat at least 5-8,000.

The tiny little thing that is proposed will just take business away from other existing venues in town. If they are going to build something, build something the COMMUNITY can use, not just state government.

Build it bigger and more flexible and more useful. Let Hammonds build the hotel rooms.

I agree this town needs to think bigger and grow. We also need some higher wage jobs here in high-tech industries like bioscience, information processing, green technology, etc.

Our children cannot be expected to stay if all they have is Arby's and a $20,000 state job to choose from. We need some JOBS.

Boomer 2 years, 5 months ago

Our Governor is working very hard to get fast internet access for all MO to help us stay in touch. What I'm saying is the tech. is now available to allow people to have on line "Conventions" saving travel time, expense and lost time out of the office. I'd be in favor of an exhibition center rather than a "Convention" center. Clear out most of the old prison buildings and build it there.

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