Orange County commissioners will decide Tuesday whether they should increase the tax on hotel rooms, but the question before them is really much more important than that.
The real issue: Does Orlando have hope of becoming Florida's premier city?
Commissioners can answer with a resounding "Yes!" by supporting County Mayor Rich Crotty's proposal to add one penny to the five-cents-on-the-dollar tax on hotel rooms.
A yes vote would bolster the tourism industry with millions of badly needed advertising dollars. Orlando's tourist industry remains strong, but competitors such as Las Vegas are spending more to woo visitors and conventions. A thriving tourist industry is key to Central Florida's economic future.
But more than that, an increase would lay the groundwork for the entertainment venues residents deserve: a new or renovated arena, a new performing arts center and a refurbished Florida Citrus Bowl stadium. Great cities are defined by vibrant arts communities that entertain and inspire and by sports teams that build civic pride.
Mr. Crotty's plan does not pit the industry's interests against those of the community. If approved, the increase would be split equally between the need to increase tourism advertising and paying for the civic venues. But for the first two years, all the new money would go to promotions, giving the industry an extra $24 million to market area attractions and hotels.
In the meantime, Mr. Crotty and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer can hammer out a finance plan for the venues. That plan should include healthy contributions from the city and the Orlando Magic, the NBA franchise that would be housed in a new arena.
This makes good sense.
Jump-starting an ad campaign to attract tourists is smart. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Bureau -- a chief competitor for tourist and convention business -- spent an estimated $97 million on advertising last year, far more than Orange County's Convention and Visitors Bureau's entire tourist-tax allocation of $20 million.
Let's be clear: Chicken Littles like hotelier Harris Rosen are wrong when they cry that lower occupancy rates mean the sky is falling. He is actually urging commissioners to reject this plan and spend the entire increase on tourist promotions. Mr. Rosen ignores the fact that tourist tax collections are up an estimated 20.9 percent this year.
Thankfully, the hysterical Mr. Rosen represents the industry's fringe. Commissioners would be better off heeding the arguments of more reasoned professionals -- including the CEOs of Walt Disney World and Universal Studios -- who support Mr. Crotty's plan.
On Tuesday, commissioners can show that Orlando, a great vacation destination, is on its way to being an even greater place to live.