Rockingham County commissioners voted last night to proceed with phase one of what is being called the ‘Horse Park of the South’ at a price of $6.8 million.

It’s all about economic development, County Manager Tom Robinson told commissioners, as the county “county will reap benefits from the commercial development that pops up around the park and the jobs those businesses will create.”

But here’s the best part: Commissioners also “voted to ask the state legislature to increase the county’s occupancy tax from 3 to 4 percent. The increase would provide a reserve fund for the equestrian center project.

Nice.