MUNFORDVILLE Eating out is getting more expensive in Munfordville. City Council voted Monday to implement a 3 percent restaurant tax after Mayor Charles Hays cast a tie-breaking vote. City Council declined to vote on a transient room tax, opting instead to join Hart County in forming a seven-member county tourism and convention commission. The county plan includes a room tax. The city has been very cooperative with the county, City Attorney Charlie Williams said. Hopefully, it will be as cooperative with the city. The 3 percent tax the maximum the commission could levy against restaurants is expected to help the tourism commission promote the area. It is to take effect July 1, though that ultimately will depend on when the county forms the commission, City Clerk Rita Sims said. But the city should have consulted with restaurant owners before making a decision on the tax, said Al Berman, who owns several Sonic Drive-In restaurants in southcentral Kentucky, including one in Munfordville. I agree that if (the tax) is going to be used to help the city promote Munfordville, then it will need the funding, Berman said. I was disappointed because they voted for the maximum without (any) discussion with restaurant owners. If it werent for another restaurant owner, I wouldnt have known about the tax. Its important because this could affect where people eat. Aside from forming a commission, the county plan includes incorporating several tourism displays and information booths in two proposed rest areas along Interstate 65 between Munfordville and Horse Cave. Construction on the rest areas should begin next year and be completed in 2003, Judge-Executive Terry Shelton said. If the county implements a room tax, Shelton plans to earmark 85 percent of that money for marketing and promotion, he said. No date to discuss the room tax has been set.