The Paso Robles City Council on Oct. 7 unanimously voted to allow the Lodging Business Improvement District, or BID, advisory board to be formed.

The city’s hotel owners are now being asked to approve a plan to form the BID, which could raise about half a million dollars annually to promote tourism in the area.

The money would come from a 2 percent fee per nightly stay on gross receipts from the city’s hotels and motels.

The BID’s proponents are working on mailing their plan to all affected business owners. So long as more than half of the city’s hoteliers don’t protest the BID by Dec. 16, the BID will progress toward official formation.

There are 69 places of lodging in Paso Robles, but the bed and breakfasts, recreational vehicle parks, campgrounds and vacation rentals will not be affected by the tax.