The Hays City Commission on Thursday unanimously approved a 2-percent hike in the city’s transient guest tax to pay for street improvements along the Vine Street corridor. The current plan is to construct three roundabouts there in efforts to improve traffic flow.
The transient guest tax is currently at 5 percent. Commonly known as a hotel bed tax, the rate only is paid by those who stay overnight in any of the city’s hotels. The Vine Street project is eligible for those funds because the improvements would benefit travelers, City Manager Toby Dougherty said.
“City staff made the suggestion that part of project — a significant part of the project — could be funded with transient guest tax dollars due to the fact the improvements would make it better for visitors, pedestrians and people staying in the area and utilizing the area, not just people who live here,” Dougherty said.
(Read more: News – The Hays Daily News)