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February 23, 2008

Tax bill could be boost to hotel at trade center

By Charles Oliver

A tax bill that could help bring a hotel to the trade center got a big boost last week.

The House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee approved the Georgia Tourism Development Act — House Bill 1129 — on Thursday.

The bill creates tax credits for tourism-related development, such as the planned hotel at the Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center.

State Rep. Roger Williams, R-Dalton, says he expects the bill will be approved by the General Assembly.

A similar bill passed last year with no opposing votes in either chamber. But Gov. Sony Perdue surprised its supporters by vetoing that bill — HB 451 — in May. He said at the time he had no problem with the proposal, but he objected to the fact that the bill contained tax credits for commercial aquariums as well. He vetoed several other tax bills that contained multiple proposals, saying tax bills should deal only with one topic.

“All that stuff has been stripped out,” Williams said of HB 1129. “He (Perdue) indicates he is comfortable with it and will sign it.”

But Williams said he isn’t sure whether the governor will sign the bill before the end of the legislative session, which is typically in late March or April, or later.

The trade center authority last year signed a letter of intent with hotelier and developer John Q. Hammons to develop a 220- to 240-room Embassy Suites hotel at the trade center.

Trade center executive director Rick Tanner said that since Perdue’s veto of HB 451 last year Hammons has been waiting to see what happens with that legislation.

Tanner said trade center officials are continuing to try to reach a final agreement with Hammons on the hotel and those who work for Hammons have told him they are encouraged by the recent news about HB 1129.

Tanner said having a hotel attached to the trade center would provide a big boost in attracting convention business.

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