Spending the night will get pricier

Palm Beach County is looking to raise funds to promote tourism and fix beach erosion through a new tourism tax.

County commissioners approved an early measure Tuesday that will make staying at area hotels more expensive by raising the tax on short terms stays, known as the “bed tax,” to 6 cents per dollar, up from five cents. The tax applies to hotel, bed and breakfasts, condo rentals and other short-term stays.

Commissioners will make a final decision on the levy on Dec. 16.

Tourism generates about $34 million each year for Palm Beach County, according to the Sun-Sentinel. The increase would earmark 32 percent of the tax money to fix area beaches. [Sun-Sentinel]  – Jennifer White Karp