There’s a good chance the proposed change to the disbursement of the lodging tax will not occur, despite a passing vote at last week’s county commission meeting. Both Senator Mike Bell and Representative Eric Watson have said they would not introduce legislation that was not approved by a ¾ majority of the county board.

“I have always had a personal policy, no matter what the issue is, to want a ¾ majority vote,” Bell said, adding, “90% of all resolutions introduced are unanimous. When one isn’t, it tends to be controversial.”

Bell said if a resolution is approved at the state level, it then needs to be voted on again at the county level. Requiring a ¾ majority vote before introducing a resolution allows the issue some breathing room.

“If one person changes their mind when it comes back to the county, it fails. This allows someone to change their mind,” Bell said.

Watson said he had never passed a private act with just 2/3 majority passing it locally. He said it has been that way as long as he has been in office.