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Council backs resolution to seek extension of 2% innkeeper tax and hears large convention-incentive request
Summary
The council approved a resolution urging lawmakers to continue the county's 2% convention-center operating (innkeeper) tax beyond its sunset and heard Events Plaza staff describe a sizable meetings-and-incentives line—tied directly to the innkeeper revenue—needed to secure contracted events and hotel rebates.
The Vanderburgh County Council voted to send a resolution to state lawmakers asking that the county's 2% convention center operating (innkeeper) tax be continued beyond its scheduled sunset.
Council members discussed the path to the statehouse and said staff had contacted Representative Tim O'Brien and others; staff suggested the resolution likely will be attached to a bill or grouped with other counties seeking similar relief. Multiple council members and staff urged coordination with county commissioners and the regional Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) to present a united request.
The council also heard from the OMB Events Plaza director about a sizable operating request for meetings and convention incentives. The director said recruiting several contracted events for 2025 and providing hotel rebates requires a materially larger incentives line in the operating budget; he connected the request to the ongoing availability of the 2% innkeeper revenue and emphasized that the county will continue receiving the tax through December 2025 but that policy action is needed to maintain the revenue stream in later years.
"When the legislation for the usage of the 2% of innkeepers tax was revised ... it did allow for the usage of that 2% to create the meetings and incentives," the Events Plaza director said. He said event contracts and hotel rebates accounted for the increase in that line for 2025 and offered to share a list of potential events with council.
Council members unanimously approved the resolution (listed as CODotRDash08Dash24Dash008 in the meeting packet) by voice vote and discussed next steps for state outreach. The vote authorizes staff to circulate the signed resolution to legislators and encourages parallel action by the county commissioners and CVB.
What happens next: staff will deliver the signed resolution to state legislators and coordinate outreach with local convention stakeholders; Events Plaza staff will provide the list of targeted 2025 events and further budget justification to the council during budget deliberations.
