Now that the Louisiana Legislature has given Visit Baton Rouge the right to ask voters in certain parts of the parish to reconsider a proposed 2-cent hotel occupancy tax, VBR officials are trying to determine when it makes the most sense to put the measure back up for a vote.
Though the agency still has time to put its measure on a fall ballot, VBR President and CEO Paul Arrigo says it might make more sense to wait until next spring—or later.
“We’re still uncertain,” he says. “We want to make sure we’re prepared and that we get it passed this time, so we’re just not sure if we’ll go in the fall or the spring, if at all.”
In the waning days of the recent legislative session, lawmakers approved a bill by Sen. Regina Barrow, D-Baton Rouge, that would allow voters to increase the 4-cent hotel occupancy tax by two additional cents for hotels. The tax, if approved, would only apply to rentals of hotel rooms in East Baton Rouge Parish—excluding Baker, Central, Zachary, and the new Baton Rouge North Economic Development District.
Proceeds from the tax, which would generate an estimated $2.6 million a year, would be split evenly between VBR, which would use the money for marketing and incentives, and the Raising Cane’s River Center, which would spend its share on renovations.
Last fall, voters narrowly rejected—51% to 49%—a similar tax proposal, though in that measure, the city-parish was the taxing authority. Under the new legislation, VBR has the power to levy the new tax.
VBR intends to do a better job making its case to the public this time, Arrigo says.
—Stephanie Riegel
