LEBANON — Warren County tourism officials will broach the possibility of increasing the county's hotel tax — now 2 percent on top of the 6 percent sales tax — in a meeting today with county commissioners.

        The tax funds the Warren County Convention and Visi tors Bureau. Commissioner Pat South, who is also on the bureau's board, said Monday that the bureau will ask the commissioners to boost it to 3 percent.

        That's in line with what most other Ohio counties, including Warren's neighbors, collect on hotel room rentals, Mrs. South said.

        “Tourism is one of the things that has kept our economy stable,” she said. “There's many things the Convention and Visitors Bu reau wants to do to develop tourism.”

        The bureau declined to discuss its proposal in advance of today's meeting.

        The meeting is just a preliminary step, Mrs. South said. The commissioners have authority to raise the hotel tax, but they want to schedule a public hearing before deciding.

        The tax brought in $707,845 in 2000, according to the county Office of Management and Budget.

        Also on the commissioners' agenda today: a public hearing on the proposed annexation of 251 acres from Salem Township into Morrow. Properties to be annexed include a former feed mill and Morrow Baptist Church.

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