Ballot text
Shall the City of Clayton impose a tax on the charges for all sleeping rooms paid by the transient guests of hotels and motels situated in Clayton at a rate of not more than 5 percent for the sole purpose of promoting tourism?

What it’s asking
This proposition asks whether the City of Clayton should impose a tax on the charges for all hotels and motels in Clayton at a rate of less than 5 percent.

The city would use the money from the tax to promote the city as a destination for tourists. There are currently four hotels in Clayton. Though Clayton aldermen have not yet determined the tax rate they would implement, the city estimates that a 3.5 percent tax would yield $960,000 annually.

Opponents argue that the proposition creates double taxation because St. Louis County also has a hotel/motel tax.

Our take
Yes. We support increasing tourism; however, we are not certain this tax will be the most effective means of doing so.