COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Car rental companies here have launched a petition drive to place a new $4-a-day car rental tax, approved by the Columbus City Council in June, before a public vote. Working closely with the Ohio Taxpayers Association, rental operators hope to gather the required 3,900 signatures by July 24 to place the tax measure on the November ballot. Otherwise, the tax will go into effect August 1 and continue through Dec. 31, 2005.

If not repealed, the tax will be funneled into Columbus' general fund to pay for such services as police and fire protection. Exempt from the tax are rentals lasting more than 90 days, rentals made because the customer's own car is in a repair shop or body shop, and rentals of any vehicle designed to seat 10 people or more. The tax plan was pushed by Mayor Michael B. Coleman's administration.

"What people need to understand is that this $4 a day is not going toward building a convention center or some sports complex. It's actually going into the general fund," explained Kevin Miles, who runs Budget Rent a Car locations in Columbus. "What's scary is that if other cities see Columbus get away with this, we'll be seeing this in other cities. The tax will be seen as a way to raise revenue for the general fund."

The Association for Car & Truck Rental Independents & Franchisees has donated $3,000 to help offset the petition drive's expenses. National car rental companies with operations in Columbus have also pooled their resources to hire a local law firm to assist in the effort.

In addition to Miles, participants in the petition drive include Blain Byers of Hertz, Mike Reynolds of Thrifty, Chris Binkley of Thrifty, Kevin Iskovitz of Enterprise, Natalie Martin of National Car Rental, Richard Martin of National Car Rental, Chris Ray of Budget, Don Nystrom of Avis, and Todd Greenleaf of Dollar.