Mary Hansen
The State Journal-Register
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Tax hikes
Aldermen at Tuesday’s committee of the whole meeting said little about the natural gas tax and proposed increases in sales, hotel and telecommunication taxes, opting to debate them at the council meeting set for Feb. 7.
In response to a question from Ward 8 Ald. Kris Theilen, Mayor Jim Langfelder said if his proposed increases are voted down, his preference is to use city reserves to bridge a projected gap between income and expenses.
The manager of the Springfield Hilton Garden Inn told the council that a 1-percentage-point increase in the hotel tax would hurt not only hotel owners, but their workers, too.
Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin said he appreciates the hotel industry’s struggle, especially with the effect the state budget impasse has had. But he disagreed that the tax would have a significant impact on a visitor’s choice to stay in the capital city or a surrounding community.
“We have some unique reasons to come to Springfield that Lincoln doesn’t have and Bloomington doesn’t have and so forth,” he said.
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Joe McMenamin for Ward 7 