It's now been a week since Charlotte City Council voted to ask lawmakers in Raleigh if they will allow the city to double the food and beverage tax to help upgrade Bank of America stadium.

Sources told Channel 9 negotiations are still going on behind the scenes, and now the Panthers could be trying to sweeten the deal, like offering the city free use of the stadium for special events instead of having to pay to rent it.

The North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association fired off a letter to Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx criticizing the lack of input from their industry or the public.

"We would like to see a level playing field, not just our industry or our patrons being singled out to pay this tax," said NCRLA Chair Brad Hurley.

A new tax would have to be approved by lawmakers.

State Sen. Bob Rucho, R-Raleigh, said the Panthers and city leaders requested a meeting with him this week.

Rucho wants to know why the current 1 percent food tax, levied to pay for the convention center, isn't already enough.

He said based on the debt payments, some of that revenue should now be available to use elsewhere.

"I cannot understand why they would consider asking for new taxes if they already have that revenue stream available to them. Those are questions that I plan to ask" said Rucho.