Starting Jan. 1, the tax _ often referred to as a bed tax _ on lodging at accommodations in the county will rise to 4 percent, which could generate an additional $500,000 for the county.

Earlier this year, the state legislature approved the county’s request to increase the tax, which is among the lowest in New York.

Before the measure came to a vote, Rep. Cathy Rothenberger, D-Oneonta, told her colleagues that she travels widely and has noticed that occupancy taxes elsewhere are considerably higher.

Rep. Kevin Hodne, D-Oneonta, said, ``My problem with the bed tax has been using it to promote, not to manage, tourism.’’

In recent years, however, the county board has appropriated money to pay for infrastructure improvements, he said, something that helps tourists while they are here and also helps county residents.

``On balance, I think it helps taxpayers,’’ Hodne said.

The increased tax was opposed by three representatives, including Rep. Keith McCarty, R-Springfield, who said it would place a burden on the operators of small motels.

``A lot of mom-and-pop motels have a hard time competing with the big places, and it would hurt them to have to raise their rates,’’ he said.

McCarty said these small motels used to fill up for much of the summer, ``but this year, the only time you saw �no vacancy’ signs was on Hall of Fame weekend.’’

Rep. James Powers, R-Butternuts, said he believes the tax ``should stay where it is.’’

Rep. Betty Anne Schwerd, R-Burlington, also opposed the increase, but it was approved by the majority.

At the start of the meeting, Orrin Higgins, of Hartwick, said he hopes that more occupancy-tax money will be returned to the villages and towns that generate the tax.

``I would like to see a formula so that money comes back to repair sidewalks and buildings and help make us more attractive to tourists,’’ he said.

Before the measure came to a vote, Rep. Ronald Feldstein, chairman of the county’s Administration Committee, which sponsored the bed tax increase, said, ``We do have a policy and procedure to make sure that support gets to the towns, the city and the villages in the county.’’

The occupancy tax already helps pay for code enforcement to make sure accommodations are safe for emergency 911 dispatchers and for infrastructure repairs, he said.

The tax is levied mostly on visitors, who are accustomed to higher taxes when they go elsewhere, he said.

``The only time it will hurt Otsego County taxpayers is when they shack up,’’ Feldstein said.

In other business, the board:

Listened to a presentation by Kevin O’Connor and Scott Fickbohm about flooding problems at Candarago Lake.

O’Connor, an environmental engineer with the state Department of Environmental Conservation, said a sandbar near the lake’s outlet stream needs to be dredged and a dam on that stream needs replacing.

Fickbohm, district manager of the county’s Soil and Water District, said he plans to meet with Rep. Michael Arcuri, D-Utica, to see if he will formally ask the Army Corps of Engineers to help with a project.

On the advice of county Attorney Rodney Klafehn, the board decided not to act, but seek more information from state officials about expenses and liabilities associated with the project.

Heard from Clerk of the Board Laura Child that Colleen Thorne, the county’s probation director, has submitted her resignation. Thorn was hired by the board Sept. 20, 2006.