Some JCMO hotel operators are challenging the city’s lodging tax in court

By John Marsh

• Hotel owners in Missouri’s capital city are suing Jefferson City over its seven percent lodging tax. Mike Murphy of Comobuz quotes the hotel owners as saying it breaks state law and funnels millions of dollars into a downtown conference-center project instead of promoting tourism. The city says it needs the revenue to help finance a planned 133-million dollar convention complex.