Officials say proposed Oklahoma City hotel tax has not opposition

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- No organized opposition has been mounted to a proposed hotel tax increase that would help pay for renovations to the State Fair Park.<br/><br/>The only group to have filed campaign

Monday, December 6th 2004, 5:56 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- No organized opposition has been mounted to a proposed hotel tax increase that would help pay for renovations to the State Fair Park.

The only group to have filed campaign forms with the city clerk's office is the Committee to Improve Oklahoma City's Horse Show Facilities, led by Mayor Mick Cornett and former Mayor Ron Norick.

The proposal would increase the hotel tax from 2% to 5.5%, generating an estimated $4.5-million more a year to improve horse barns at State Fair Park and promote tourism.

The proposal is an effort to keep Oklahoma City the horse show capital.

A study released in September by the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce estimated that the 15 biggest horse shows to visit the city in 2003 generated nearly $50-million in lodging expenses.

Voters will decide on the issue on December 14th.