WICHITA --- After considering either a $1.10 surcharge or 2.5 percent tax on car rentals to fund nonprofit arts organizations, the Wichita City Council removed the item from its agenda.

“It is dead,” said Councilman Jim Skelton, who was opposed to the tax hike from the start. “I don’t think it would have passed. It lacked support form the council.”

The council set aside $719,000 from the 2006 budget in February, but the Wichita Eagle reported in August that officials only considered that allocation a temporary fix.

Skelton said this tax hike was looked at for supplemental funding, but it wasn’t the best option.

“The last thing we need is another tax of any kind,” Skelton said.

In order to establish the ordinance, the tax would have needed approval from five of the seven council members.

The current car rental tax is 10.8 percent.