OAKLAND, Md. (AP) — Garrett County officials say a boost in the local hotel tax will help pay for the county’s recent acquisition of a manmade whitewater course in western Maryland.

The Cumberland Times-News reports that the county commissioners voted Tuesday to raise the hotel tax from
5 percent to 6 percent, effective July 1.

County Administrator Monty Pagenhardt says some of the new revenue will reimburse the county’s $600,000 expense for paying off loans on which the Adventure Sports Center International had defaulted.

Pagenhardt says the higher hotel tax will also fund tourism promotion and economic development.

One event the county is promoting is the 2014 world canoe and kayak slalom championships at the whitewater course near McHenry.

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