Hood River County Commissioners moved closed to putting a prepared food and beverage tax on the May ballot to help deal with the County’s revenue shortfall, telling staff to prepare an ordinance with a five percent tax rate.  County Administrator Jeff Hecksel says they settled on five areas where funds generated from a prepared food and beverage tax would go, and they are all services that tourists use:  recreational response and search and rescue, environmental health (restaurant and lodging), parks buildings and grounds, recreational trails, and roads.  Commissioners should get a draft ordinance for a prepared food and beverage tax to examine at their January 22 meeting.  More discussion remains on a possible local option levy, as Commissioners continue to seek consensus on a rate and what monies generated would be used for.