Hoover lodging tax expected to be tabled

Hoover council member John Lyda said that discussion in a Thursday council work session led to an agreement to table consideration of doubling Hoover lodging tax. The motion to table will be formally made by the council on Monday night.

“I think the mayor and council seem to be collectively in agreement to take a real close look at this,” Lyda said, noting that there is currently no timetable for reintroducing the proposal to increase lodging taxes in Hoover to 6 percent.

He said council members' concerns included the impact the tax would have on the city overall as well as the lodging business. How the potential revenue would be spent is another consideration, as Lyda said the current proposal is too vague.

The plan states that the new revenue, expected to be about $1.5 million, would go to the capital projects fund. Resolving details about the best use of the funds, if the tax is approved, is an important step to reintroducing the proposal to council consideration, Lyda said.

“I think we need to have a collaborative plan that lays out in detail how the tax will be spent,” Lyda said.

Hoover city council meets Monday, Aug. 3 at 6 p.m.