The Louisiana State University Economic Development District and the East Baton Rouge Metro Council have approved a taxing district for LSU.

The tax code includes a 1% tax on sales and used tax. It will also put a 1% sales tax on hotel currency. The tax would include LSU’s campus as a whole and 109 businesses surrounding the area.

“I want you to know , it’s LSU but there are areas that have been , for lack of a better term, carved out , and so it will include the businesses around LSU.” Councilwoman Carolyn Coleman said.

Taxpayer dollars are not expected towards the new LSU arena that is expected to be built.

The general public was not allowed to vote on the tax that they will now have to pay for. The EBR Metro Council has faced a lot of backlash but Councilwoman Coleman says that the tax code is for a better greater cause.

“A better quality of life is all anybody wants , I don’t care where you live, they may have different concepts of what is a better quality of life but that’s all the intent of what developing this district is about” she said.

LSU is not the only university to pay the one percent sales tax for its economic development district. Southern University has also approved the tax earlier in August.

The tax is expected to take full effect October 1.