Duncan voters consider tax for tourism agency

Journal Record, The (Oklahoma City), Oct 10, 1996

DUNCAN (AP) -- Voters will decide Dec. 10 on a 5 percent occupancy tax on hotel and motel rooms that would be used to create a convention and tourism department and to help pay for maintenance and operations of the Simmons Center.

Tourism promotion now is managed through a tourism committee of the Duncan Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Rick Braught, president of the Simmons Center Foundation, said the chamber would relinquish tourism activities for the most part and concentrate on business if the hotel-motel tax goes into effect.

The Duncan City Council approved a resolution Tuesday setting the election date, which was requested by the foundation's board of trustees. Braught said half the proceeds would go for the convention and tourism department to be housed at the Simmons Center with one full- time employee to run the department. The other half would go for routine maintenance and operations of the center, which opened six years ago. The foundation has an agreement with the Duncan Public Utilities Authority for a 20-year lease to manage the facilities and grounds. If Duncan voters approve the measure, collections would begin Feb. 1, 1997, City Attorney Jim Frieda said. They would continue for the 14 years remaining on the Simmons Center lease agreement.