John R. Hammond, Leopold's budget officer, also voiced doubt about a slump in tourism numbers, particularly since most individual travelers won't notice such fees until they check out.
"On the margin there may be a handful of people who make the decision not to come to Anne Arundel County," Hammond said. "I think that number is so small, it gets lost in the noise."
County Councilman Josh Cohen, an Eastport Democrat, has already voiced his opposition to raising the tax. But the majority of the seven-member council would not say which way they are leaning. Council Chairwoman Cathleen M. Vitale pointed out that rejecting the increase would force the council to find the money somewhere else in the budget.
