Though discussion of a potential Jefferson City conference center has dropped off since early last year, the dedicated lodging tax continues to collect funds earmarked for the promotion of tourism.
With a six-way race set for the mayoral seat, the News Tribune sat down with each mayoral candidate to ask whether they support the use of lodging tax funds for a conference center. (Candidates are listed in the order they will appear on the April ballot.)
Jefferson City collects a 7 percent lodging tax on all hotel rooms within city limits. The lodging tax revenues are split between two funds, with 3 percent going to fund the operations of the Jefferson City Convention and Visitors Bureau and 4 percent going to fund construction of a potential conference center.
The lodging tax fund is expected to raise roughly $9 million for the promotion of tourism in the area and will expire in 2035; it currently has nearly $2.2 million in the bank.
Last year, the City Council rejected two conference center proposals after nearly two years of work on the process. After the proposals were rejected, most council members said it was time to put the concept on the shelf and get public input on how the lodging tax funds should be used.
Several months later, city officials briefly discussed the potential of using the lodging tax funds on the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department's multipurpose building project. The idea was quickly abandoned, and most city officials then voiced support for a conference center project down the road.
3rd Ward Councilman Bob Scrivner said he has always supported the idea of a conference center, preferably downtown, and the lodging tax was passed to help make that a reality.
"That's my hope, that somehow we can still have that done," Scrivner said. "My desire would be to have a conference center downtown."
Scrivner noted if a better business plan is presented for a site outside the downtown area, he would keep an open mind.
Leonard Steinman said he supports a conference center, but it needs to be beautiful and self-sufficient, and he is opposed to building a new hotel attached to it.
"I am in favor of a conference center, but we're not ready for it yet," Steinman said. "Because we have no money."
Carrie Tergin said she has always supported a downtown conference center and the most recent process made clear the importance of cultivating a relationship with the state and any other partners needed for the success of the project.
"Now we need to build the partnerships to make it happen," Tergin said. "The lodging tax is there for that purpose."
Tergin said the city now needs to figure out exactly what's needed and how to make it happen.
Edith Vogel said she supports the funds' use for construction of a conference center, but noted the issue needs to be revisited by the City Council.
"The power lies with the council to resurrect it again, if they so see fit," Vogel said.
She said, ideally, the project should be handled by private enterprise, but "if they thought it was profitable, it would have been done."
Roy Viessman said though the ballot language stated the funds would be used for the promotion of tourism, the issue was advertised to voters as being used for a conference center and that's how it should be used.
"That's what it was sold as," Viessman said. "What, are we going to deceive the people? I don't want to do that."
Richard S. Groner said the people voted in favor of the lodging tax specifically to fund construction of a conference center, regardless of what the ballot language stated. But the city has not taken the appropriate steps to get the project started, he said.
"We've done a terrible job of trying to bring that to fruition," Groner said.
Groner said city staff should reach out to each group and location in Jefferson City that hosts conferences or conventions to see what is needed.