Room tax bill splits Reno, Sparks

Wednesday, May 5, 1999 | 3:33 a.m.

But council members Bill Newberg and Dave Aiazzi told lawmakers Tuesday they still support keeping the wording in SB477, giving Sparks authority to raise its hotel room tax and to use the money as it wishes.

That way, they said, Sparks wouldn't dilute the money and decision-making authority of the Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority, which collects room taxes, markets the region and runs the convention center.

Under the bill, being reviewed by the Assembly Taxation Committee, Sparks would raise its room tax 3 points to 11 percent.

Downtown Reno, already paying an extra point to lower railroad tracks through its downtown area, would increase 2 points to 12 percent. And the rest of Washoe County would go up 3 points to 12 percent.

Tourism officials say that renovation and expansion of the convention center, estimated at $105 million, are critical to attract trade-show groups and provide a reliable base of visitors for the tourism-dependent economy.

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