The Jacksonville Advertising and Promotion Commission is asking the City Council of the Little Rock suburb to impose a 2% tax on prepared foods to fund marketing efforts to bring in more tourists.
The council will hold the first of several hearings on the request, which is expected to generate $550,000 a year, on July 5. The council's final vote is expected in August.
Half of the annual revenues would be spent on a professional promotion and marketing campaign, with $163,000 going to the city's parks and recreation department for operations and beautification.
The so-called hamburger tax would be levied on meals at restaurants in the city. Several Arkansas cities, including Little Rock and Conway, use prepared food tax revenues to advertise local events and attractions.
Jacksonville, the home of Little Rock Air Force Base, intends to emphasize its military heritage in tourism promotions.
Jacksonville's 2% hotel tax currently funds the Advertising and Promotion Commission. The commission provides about $36,000 a year to the Jacksonville Museum of Military History from the tax.
