CINCINNATI — Downtown Cincinnati businesses are volunteering to add an additional tax to help fund a new hotel at the city's convention center, a move that passed Cincinnati City Council unanimously Wednesday.

The proposal, through 3CDC, would see businesses in the Downtown Fountain District opt in to contribute 1% or one cent of every dollar to the construction of the new Marriott convention headquarters hotel. It's called the "Convention District Community Authority."

The voluntary tax is expected to generate at least $1.1 million annually until the convention center renovation is complete.

"This is necessary to fund the hotel," said Jeff Cramerding, Cincinnati City Council Budget and Finance Committee chairman. "It's great news that they're voluntarily opting in. It shows how importa

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