INDIANAPOLIS -- State lawmakers will soon be asked to increase the tax on alcohol, food, hotels and game tickets in an effort to help bail out the massive operating deficit of Indianapolis' professional sporting venues.

Doubling the wholesale tax on beer, wine and spirits would bring in $42 million a year, or just about enough to cover the worst-case cost of operating Lucas Oil Stadium, Conseco Fieldhouse, Victory Field and the Indiana Convention Center put forth by the Indianapolis Capital Improvement Board, 6News' Norman Cox reported.

However, under the plan that will be proposed to lawmakers, only about $8 million from the alcohol tax would go to shoring up the deficit. The rest would be split up by cities and towns around the state.

To cover the rest of the shortfall, lawmakers will also be asked to raise local hotel and motel taxes from 8 to 9 percent, boost the food and beverage tax a quarter of a percent and increase the tax on stadium and fieldhouse ticket from 6 to 10 percent.

"This is about $3.5 billion worth of convention business, 66,000 jobs in central Indiana related to hospitality. That's what this is about," said Mayor Greg Ballard. "We must maintain this economic engine of downtown Indianapolis and that is exactly what it is."

The plan also assumes $5 million a year contributions from both the Colts and Pacers, but there has not yet been an agreement from either team.

"Both teams have been very cooperative and want to work toward a solution. Saying that, at the same time, neither one has agreed to pay this specific amount, and so this is something that has to be worked out," said Sen. Luke Kenley, R-Noblesville.

Many lawmakers from Marion County and surrounding areas said Wednesday that their constituents are skeptical about bailing out the CIB when the professional teams aren't committed to giving anything back.

"People in Morgan County, and in general in my representative district, are opposed to that because of the popular perception that we're helping millionaire athletes and millionaire team owners," said Rep. Ralph Foley, R-Martinsville.

People who 6News spoke to Wednesday night were divided about whether tax increases to cover the shortfall are a good idea.

"Taxing local hotels, it seems like, would hurt the local businesses more than the stadium would bring in," said Ben Rademaker, of Jeffersonville.

"They're raising our taxes just so they can pay their bills," said Charles Jones, of Indianapolis. "When we can't pay our bills, where's our support?"

"Downtown Indianapolis is really struggling to keep everything together," said Kewanna Hamilton, of Indianapolis. "I really think it would be helpful to get more money to pay for stadiums."

The Senate Appropriations Committee is expected to vote on the bailout measure Thursday morning.