MIAMI

A coalition of business and tourism boosters have launched a campaign urging Miami Beach voters to support the increase of a tourist tax. The tax hike would fund major improvements to the outdated Miami Beach Convention Center.

A one-cent increase to the city’s resort tax could add about $9 million annually to the city’s coffers.

The extra millions, which could be bonded out to as much as $90 million, would then be used exclusively to “expand, enlarge, renovate, and/or improve the convention center” and pay down debt associated with a major improvements project, according to the ballot language.

After such a project was completely paid off, the extra money would go into a “Capital Renewal and Replacement Fund for the Center” for upkeep.