SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — The Springfield Hotel & Lodging Association is urging the Sangamon County Board to delay its vote on a new 3% hotel-motel tax to fund the BOS Center expansion. The group told WAND News the public deserves more time to review the plan and discuss other options.

Hotel operators say they support responsible investment in Springfield tourism and conventions, like improving the BOS Center. However, SHLA President Darin Dame said the county needs to allow for public review before creating one of the highest-taxed hotel markets in Illinois at 17%.

"When you have people that come to your city, the tax unfortunately is part of the bill that they look at and it's included with your cost," Dame said. "Even though it's a tax, it's still a burden upon your business people coming to stay with you, your leisure travelers coming to stay with you and also all of the people who work for the state of Illinois on the government side."

Local officials said moving ahead now could avoid millions in rising construction costs and help attract larger conventions, events and visitors to Springfield.

"We can move forward with a plan to expand our convention center, which two independent studies have now confirmed would be hugely beneficial to our community, or we can do nothing while we wait for the legislature to see what it will do," said Sangamon County Board Chair Andy Van Meter. 

Dame said the public deserves to know why the state's maximum hotel rate is necessary, what new room-night demand will be created and any alternatives the board considers.

"What happened to the Renaissance downtown? What happened to the hotel in Collinsville?" Dame asked. "I'm pretty sure the last time those were funded by state or municipal dollars, I think we lost a lot of money for the state of Illinois."

The Sangamon County Board is expected to vote on the new tax at 6 p.m. Tuesday. 

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