Overnight visitors staying in Excelsior Springs hotels, short-term rentals and other lodging accommodations could soon help fund tourism and destination development efforts under a proposal recently approved by the Excelsior Springs City Council and is now headed to voters in August.The measure was approved during a recent special council meeting following a public hearing, which included comments from business leaders, residents and community organizations both supporting and opposing the proposal.If approved by voters on Aug. 4, the proposed 5% transient guest tax would apply to hotels, motels, bed-and-breakfast establishments and short-term rentals, with revenue dedicated solely to tourism promotion and visitor-related initiatives in Excelsior Springs.City officials said the proposed tax is intended to create a dedicated funding source for tourism promotion, destination marketing and visitor-related improvements throughout Excelsior Springs.“The conc...