Hotel, Airbnb and bed and breakfast owners packing Niagara on the Lake council chambers last night to protest plans for a four percent accommodation tax.
Councillor Paolo Miele tells CKTB News, the message was clear, they do not want the town to implement a room tax.
An angry Miele says he was upset council basically moved to do nothing after hearing from tourism owners.
He questions whether councillors are afraid of the owners or whether they fear a backlash ahead of the October municipal election.
He suggests instead of taxpayers paying to keep tourist areas looking beautiful, the tourism sector should fund it.
Miele plans to introduce a notice of motion at the next council meeting to raise the issue again.
He says the town needs the money and can not keep raising property taxes.
Niagara Falls officials hosted a similiar meeting last week with hotel owners with mixed results.
Another meeting with industry stakeholders is expected in the coming weeks.