As about 500 people, many wearing "I'm a Branson Believer" buttons, stood and cheered, Carnahan and other elected officials exhorted them to spread the word to their neighbors to give the tax bill final approval at the polls.

"Bravo, mayor, bravo," entertainer Tony Orlando shouted as he hugged Mayor Lou Schaefer after Carnahan autographed the bill he hurriedly signed without fanfare last month to give Branson time to put the issue on the Nov. 4 ballot.

"It's up to the people of Branson to get it passed now," Orlando said. "As a performer, you learn you never underestimate your audience. I'm confident the people of Branson will do the right thing."

The bill would allow Branson to levy taxes of up to 4 percent on hotel rooms and theater tickets and up to one-half percent on restaurant meals. That was what was allowed under a similar law struck down in May by the Missouri Supreme Court.

The new law is needed, Schaefer said, to allow the city of about 3,800 to pay off $46.5 million in bonds it used to upgrade its sewer and water systems to accommodate the 6 million tourists who visit each year.

The court declared the previous tax unconstitutional because the law was written to benefit only Branson. Officials said this bill should survive because it was written broadly enough that most cities could ask voters to impose similar taxes.
 

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