12:15 AM EDT on Tuesday, May 24, 2005

Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C. — The state Senate gave its final approval today to a temporary two percent increase in the Charlotte hotel room tax to help fund construction of a proposed NASCAR hall of fame.

Charlotte, Atlanta and Kansas City are among the cities that want to host the hall. The attraction could bring as many as half a million visitors to the state annually. All must make their proposals to NASCAR by May 31.

The bill would give Charlotte the authority to raise the local occupancy tax from six percent to eight percent. The revenues would help finance the museum and a new ballroom for the Charlotte convention center, next to the proposed site.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

APTV-05-23-05 2126EDT