Hotel tax approved for Brookhaven trails and parks

Gov. Nathan Deal signs a Brookhaven hotel motel tax increase, House Bill 575, into law on Monday, May 8, 2017. From left: Don Bolia, Jennifer Winkler, Sen. Elena Parent, Peachtree Creek Greenway Vice Chair Sarah Kennedy, Ruby Kennedy, Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver, Mayor John Ernst, Rep. Meagan Hanson, Peachtree Creek Greenway Chairwoman Betsy Eggers, Michael Diaz. Credit: Office of the Governor.

Credit: Mark Niesse

Credit: Mark Niesse

Gov. Nathan Deal signs a Brookhaven hotel motel tax increase, House Bill 575, into law on Monday, May 8, 2017. From left: Don Bolia, Jennifer Winkler, Sen. Elena Parent, Peachtree Creek Greenway Vice Chair Sarah Kennedy, Ruby Kennedy, Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver, Mayor John Ernst, Rep. Meagan Hanson, Peachtree Creek Greenway Chairwoman Betsy Eggers, Michael Diaz. Credit: Office of the Governor.

Gov. Nathan Deal signed off on a Brookhaven hotel tax this week that will help fund the Peachtree Creek Greenway, a 12-mile stretch of paths and parks.

Along with Brookhaven, Deal also signed bills that authorize raising hotel taxes in Chamblee, Dunwoody and Tucker.

"This legislation is an investment in several critical areas including the regional economy, alternative transportation, tourism and green space preservation," Deal said Monday of the Brookhaven measure, House Bill 575.

Raising hotel taxes from 5 percent to 8 percent will generate $650,000 a year for parts of the project from Mercer University to the PATH400 Trail, the South Fork Conservancy Trails and the Atlanta Beltline.

“Trails are the future. It’s really money well spent,” said Debbie Miller, representing the Peachtree Creek Greenway at Tuesday’s DeKalb Commission meeting.

The hotel tax increase in ChambleeDunwoody and Tucker will fund green space, trails and other projects.