BUTLER: Butler County Commissioners approved a 3 percent bed tax Wednesday and appointed nine people to an interim tourist bureau board. Commissioner James Kennedy voted against the tax, which is to be used by the bureau to promote tourism in Butler County. "My concern is that we're creating a tax just because we can do so and without a plan," he said. Kennedy referred to the fact that the newly formed interim tourist bureau board, which does not yet have an official name, has not yet formulated a plan on how to spend the tax money. The board replaced the Butler County Chamber of Commerce last month as the county's designated tourism promotion agency after commissioners viewed the chamber's plan for the estimated $400,000 the bed tax will raise annually. One of the commissioners' main concerns was that $126,000 of the revenue would be used by the chamber for administrative costs. After seeing the chamber's initial plan, Kennedy also voted against the bed tax, stating he did not support the chamber acting as the county's tourism promotion agency. He said the chamber missed grant deadlines earlier this year and the grant money could have been used to promote tourism. Kennedy said he would have preferred to wait until the interim tourist bureau board formulated a plan regarding how the money will be spent. "They could use the money for a capital construction project that could take all of that money and leave none for promotion," Kennedy said. Commissioners Joan Chew and Glenn Anderson voted in favor of the tax. It will go into effect Jan. 1. Several business owners in September said that they wished commissioners had given them more time to prepare for the tax. "When I first heard about the tax, I wasn't happy about it," said Judy Focareta, owner of The Main Stay bed-and-breakfast in Saxonburg. "I wish they had done it in increments." Although Kennedy voted against the bed tax, he did vote in favor of appointing eight residents and Anderson to the interim tourist bureau board. Each of the appointees who applied for the position have ties to the tourism industry. Officials said the county was divided into five regions and a resident was appointed from each region. Four additional board members were selected to serve as members at large. The appointees include Linda Snyder, Bob Tait, Rick Marnic, Paul Egbert, Obediah B. Derr, Jack Cohen, Daniel Cox, Beth Ann Rush and Anderson. Once the board is operating, officials expect the appointees to name it, file corporate papers and present a plan to the commissioners.

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