There’s so much going on in Como during these couple of weeks that the single most important municipal date this month might get overlooked.

Next Tuesday, December 9, is when Como voters will have an opportunity to go to the polls and reinstate the tourism tax on prepared food and beverages and lodging.

During the time of the tourism tax’s initial tenure, 2011 to 2013, elected officials guarded the growing proceeds carefully, allowing few expenditures. The amount on hand collected during the that time stands at about $125,000. In September, Mayor Everette Hill appointed an advisory committee to help identify appropriate projects for the money’s use.

Como voters are urged to go to the polls next Tuesday and vote to reinstate the tourism tax. Vote at the Senior Citizens Building on Main Street from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sixty percent of those who vote in the referendum need to approve the tax.

Reinstatement of the tax will restart a cash flow to the town that can pay for improvements for citizens while promoting more tourism to generate more tax money.

The law allows broad use of the tax money to promote tourism, parks and recreation in the Town of Como and immediate surrounding areas. While there are many projects that could be fit within that language, the money collected would have even greater impact if used as matching funds in grant applications.

The greater the amount of matching funds that a grant applicant can put up, the more likely the application is to be approved. Tourism tax dollars could be multiplied many times.

But first things first. The tourism tax needs your vote on Tuesday. Get out and vote for it.