Fight for Yuma hospitality tax

April 7, 2008 - 6:56 PM

Causes are hard to come by. There is a definite shortage, especially for young people. A good cause for you young folk would be the hospitality tax. Yuma City Council members may bring this issue to the voters again.

The hospitality tax is applied to hotels and restaurants to fund your activities and to promote tourism and your recreation. It has been around since 1970, so why stop it?

It funds your golf courses, Desert Sun stadium, the Yuma Civic Center and the Yuma Crossing Historic area. If we lose the hospitality tax, and these programs are to continue, money to sustain them will be taken from the general fund. This means cuts to your existing parks and recreational programs.

We have to decide which battles to fight, which to abandon. Speak up for this tax, kids! It's a worthy cause. I am with you and so are many others. A $4.5 million loss of revenue is the issue, is the cause. Let's not lose it - let's be heard!

GLEN P. HENDRICK

Yuma