TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. (AP) — Officials on Tybee Island are exploring the idea of using a bed tax from hotels and motels to pay for adding sand to its beach.

The beach renourishment project involves pumping sand off the ocean floor just offshore and onto the beach.

The Savannah Morning News reports (http://bit.ly/Naex93) that changes in Georgia law regarding the use of hotel/motel taxes for tourism-related activities might help the beach's condition.

Representatives of the Tybee Island Beach Task Force on Wednesday raised the idea of a 2 percent increase in the lodging tax — with the revenues designated specifically for beach renourishment — with the Tybee Island Tourism Council.

Tybee is due for its next renourishment in late 2014 or 2015.

Local officials say they will continue to study how to fund the project.