reprinted from the Boston Herald

Hub hotel tax would go to build statewide

By Scott Van Voorhis
Copyright 2000 Boston Herald Inc.
Article date: August 10, 2000
 

For Hub hotels, the price of a new Red Sox stadium also could cover building a ballpark for Pittsfield.

With Gov. Paul Cellucci expected to sign a bill today providing a massive infusion of public money to replace Fenway Park, a little-noticed amendment could divert millions of tax dollars collected from Hub hotels for cultural projects across the state.

The ballpark bill could pump as much as $12 million over the next five years into a statewide "tourism fund," its boosters say. The money would be augmented with bond issues and matching funds to raise tens of millions of dollars for everything from a proposed Pittsfield baseball field to museums, theaters and other cultural institutions, supporters contend.

While the lion's share of the tourism fund will come from Hub hotels, most of the projects it would underwrite would likely be in Central and Western Massachusetts, supporters acknowledge.

Lawmakers from those regions have lined up behind the provision, arguing it will be a small payback to taxpayers in their districts for the $100 million state contribution to replace Fenway.

"I think there were many members who saw (the Fenway bill) as simply benefiting Boston and of little benefit to us," said state Rep. Peter Larkin (D-Pittsfield). One of the main supporters of the fund, Larkin is hoping it will help pay for a $15 million-plus
ballpark in Pittsfield.

Overall, Hub hotels - and their guests - could end up providing as much as 70 percent of the money for the tourism fund, according to industry officials.

Greater Boston has the state's largest concentration of hotels, accounting for as much as 70 percent of current state hotel tax revenue. This revenue will help pay for the new statewide tourism fund.

Once established, the tourism fund would set up a process for financing projects that could be more friendly to less politically powerful parts of the Bay State, sources say.

Currently, funding for new ballfields and similar cultural projects can depend on a lawmaker's legislative clout and home district. Those with Boston ZIP codes can carry more weight in that process, sources say.
 

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