Traverse City Record-Eagle

Grand Traverse County

January 30, 2009

Poll: Roads a top concern in GT County

Residents rank priorities in planning sessions

By BRIAN McGILLIVARY

TRAVERSE CITY -- Fiscal responsibility and maintaining county roads top Grand Traverse County residents' priorities list, based on polling at a meeting to plan the county's 2010 spending goals.

A gathering that attracted about 100 people turned contentious at the end, after one attendee suggested the county pursue a tax on hotel and motel rooms to support recreational programs.

Representatives of the hotel industry, led by Traverse City Convention & Visitors Bureau president Brad Van Dommelen, objected to the room tax notion. Some questioned why they should consider a room tax since state law doesn't allow it beyond Metro Detroit.

Proponents argued such a tax would force tourists to pay a share of the cost of local government services.

Van Dommelen said it's a "misguided perception" that tourists are a fiscal drain on local government. Studies show the opposite, that tourism results in a fiscal surplus for municipalities, he said.

Meeting attendees used hand-held devices to vote on ideas. They agreed with the hotel tax concept by a 48 to 44 margin.

A room tax was one of about 90 ideas residents put forth on Jan. 22. They returned Thursday to rank seven overall goals and prioritize those ideas as possible objectives in 2010 and beyond.

"People clearly indicated we have to address county roads in some way, shape or form and do better planning in line with the Grand Vision" land use and transportation study, said Commissioner Christine Maxbauer.

Commissioner Larry Inman said he thought expanded parks and recreational services, the idea mentioned most often on Jan. 22, would be at the top of the list, but it didn't make the top two objectives in any category.

Instead, items emerged such as increased recycling, improved water quality, support for senior services, and preserving the Civic Center walking and jogging path.

Among their top overall goals, residents listed fiscal responsibility as the most important, followed by maintaining the area's natural beauty and environment.

The board will meet later to review vote results and adopt its 2010 strategic plan, a document used to set the county's budget priorities.

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