Tax Vote for Benton Center

Residents of Benton will be asked to vote on Nov. 8 to extend the 1.5% hotel and restaurant tax to support $7 million to $8 million in bonds that would fund building a civic center.

The tax on hotel rooms and restaurant meals is set to expire Dec. 31.

If voters approve the plan, the tax would be extended until the debt matures.

The revenue in question currently is devoted to activities of the Little Rock suburb’s advertising and promotions commission.

The planned convention center would be built along Interstate 30 and include a large banquet room with seating for 700.

A proposed 100-room hotel at the site would be privately financed, the city said.

Mayor David Mattingly said the commission has agreed to focus 80% to 90% of the hospitality tax revenue on building the event center and the remainder on operating and maintaining the proposed facility.

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Arkansas
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