MONROE - Members of the City of Monroe Visitor & Promotions Board quickly nixed the idea of increasing its four percent tax on hotel and motel room stays in the city.
The Visitor & Promotion Board currently receives about $80,000 annually from rented rooms, which is collected quarterly.
The Board uses the money to help offset organizations' costs for advertising and promoting events, which could produce overnight stays and increase tourism in the city.
"We can't do it, by state statutes," said Mayor Ron Marsh, who chairs the Board.
Other members of the board, such as Richard Thoman and Randy Gobeli who both own motels and hotels, were not in favor of the increase because of the tight economy.
"We have enough money with the $80,000," said Gobeli.
Gobeli also noted that about 75 to 80 percent of hotel and motel guests use credit cards, and the owners are spending 3 percent to take credit cards. The $80,000 that goes to the city annually costs them about $2,000 for credit card uses.
Thoman did not like the idea, because he believes the added tax would actually discourages tourists from staying in Monroe.
"I think it would backfire on us," he said.
As the total room costs become higher, tourists are likely to look for accommodations in Brodhead or New Glarus or at rural area and small town bed-and-breakfasts, he said in an interview Friday. The other possibility would be that tourists would make shorter stays.
The increased tax suggestion came from a convention on tourism board member Jim Glessner attended. However, Glessner noted he was not in favor of it, even though he had the item added to the agenda.
The Visitor & Promotion Board currently receives about $80,000 annually from rented rooms, which is collected quarterly.
The Board uses the money to help offset organizations' costs for advertising and promoting events, which could produce overnight stays and increase tourism in the city.
"We can't do it, by state statutes," said Mayor Ron Marsh, who chairs the Board.
Other members of the board, such as Richard Thoman and Randy Gobeli who both own motels and hotels, were not in favor of the increase because of the tight economy.
"We have enough money with the $80,000," said Gobeli.
Gobeli also noted that about 75 to 80 percent of hotel and motel guests use credit cards, and the owners are spending 3 percent to take credit cards. The $80,000 that goes to the city annually costs them about $2,000 for credit card uses.
Thoman did not like the idea, because he believes the added tax would actually discourages tourists from staying in Monroe.
"I think it would backfire on us," he said.
As the total room costs become higher, tourists are likely to look for accommodations in Brodhead or New Glarus or at rural area and small town bed-and-breakfasts, he said in an interview Friday. The other possibility would be that tourists would make shorter stays.
The increased tax suggestion came from a convention on tourism board member Jim Glessner attended. However, Glessner noted he was not in favor of it, even though he had the item added to the agenda.