By Mark Scott
Buffalo, NY – The Erie County Legislature is under fire from local tourism officials for its decision to take another $450,000 from the county's bed tax to balance next year's budget.
The Buffalo Niagara Convention and Visitors Bureau is supposed to receive $3.6 million from the bed tax to promote local tourism and attract conventions. But Bureau Director Richard Geiger said if this latest cut stands, that allocation will drop to $1 million.
"This will really devastate the hospitality and tourism industry in all of Western New York," Geiger said. "This further misappropriation of bed tax money basically says that Erie County is closing and locking the doors to all visitors."
The County Legislature is scheduled to vote on the 2006 budget Tuesday, including a half-cent increase in the sales tax.