Clark County commission looks at unpaid room taxes

LAS VEGAS (AP) - A Clark County commissioner is asking her colleagues to consider suing online travel agencies for unpaid room taxes.

But other commissioners on Tuesday were wary of the idea proposed by Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani (JOON'-killy-ahn-ee), saying litigation could jeopardize cooperation between hotel casinos and agents.

Internet travel companies pay local taxes on hotel rooms they buy wholesale but none on the marked-up prices they charge customers.

Kevin Bagger of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority says wholesalers who book hotel rooms - including online agents - bring in about 30 percent of the area's guests.

Giunchigliani asked county staff to get a more detailed interpretation of the state's room tax laws.