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HIAWATHA — The city of Hiawatha is seeking voter approval to implement a 7 percent room tax on overnight hotel stays within city limits.

City Council members this week voted to put a referendum on the Nov. 4 ballot asking citizens to approve the imposition of a local hotel and motel tax. A simple majority would be required for the referendum to pass.

Notably, Hiawatha currently has no hotels or motels within city limits, but Mayor Steve Dodson said approving a hotel/motel tax now is a “proactive” move aimed at maximizing future earnings.

“You can only have an election every so often, so if we don’t pass a hotel/motel tax and we actually get a hotel, we would lose that revenue from the 7 perc

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