Local: Increase HRA taxes? WONDERFUL idea!

February 8, 2008
By Billy Dennis

Two downtown hotels want to increase the city’s Hotel, Restaurant and Amusement Tax. They say the teeny-tiny increase could be used to boost tourism in Peoria. The article isn’t clear how this happens but hey, what the Hell. It’s only a small amount of cash that’s going to be added to what folks pay at the cash register, and God knows that during a recession, people don’t find paying a little bit extra to make sure the corporations that own hotels make even more money for their stock holders.

But that’s that’s not why I think this is a wonderful idea. We have City Council elections coming up in early 2009. If the council votes on this, whatever the outcome, it will give voters a pretty good indication which sitting council members have their heads so far up their posteriors that they deserve to not even make it past the primary.

So by all means, let’s bring this puppy up for a vote.

End sarcasm.

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6 Responses to “ Local: Increase HRA taxes? WONDERFUL idea! ”

  1. Jonathan on February 8, 2008 at 10:35 am

    Cue Gary Sandberg’s reference to a single Mom taking her kids to McDonald’s in 3….2….1….

  2. mortonmalaise on February 8, 2008 at 11:41 am

    Too bad Peoria doesn’t have a gambling boat or one of the best field sports complexes in the country to bring in more tourism dollars. Maybe a massive Caterpillar museum downtown will cure your woes.

  3. Billy Dennis on February 8, 2008 at 11:44 am

    Mr. Ahl: Gary Sandberg took the “single Mom taking her kids to McDonald’s” from ME.

  4. C. J. Summers on February 8, 2008 at 12:42 pm

    Didn’t the Civic Center just spend $55 million to boost tourism in Peoria? And isn’t the $55 million coming out of HRA taxes?

  5. Emtronics on February 8, 2008 at 1:56 pm

    I’m counting on them to raise it and I’m hoping Gulley leads the charge.

  6. Peoria Pundit Radio: Talking points for today’s program on February 10, 2008 at 4:05 am

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