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Bill would allow chambers of commerce
continued use of lodging tax for tourist promotion
Bailey's measure would clarify law to
keep tourism promotion
intact
The House Community,
Economic Development and Trade Committee will hear testimony Thursday,
Feb. 1, on a bill that would allow chambers of commerce to continue the practice of
using "hotel-motel" taxes for tourism promotion.
The prime sponsor of
House Bill 1254,
Rep. Barbara Bailey, says for many years, chambers
of commerce across the state have applied to city and county governments
and received a portion of the state's 2 percent lodging tax to promote local
tourism. However, an attorney general's opinion last year has put in
doubt whether chambers may continue to use that revenue.
"In the 10th District,
various chambers of commerce in Island County and Mount Vernon had
previously received monies to help finance their tourism efforts. Those
efforts included production and mailing of tourism brochures, phone
inquiries and other expenses of running a tourist information center,"
said Bailey, R-Oak Harbor.
"There is concern that
some of those entities could no longer receive 2 percent monies unless
there is an ownership relation by the city or county municipality,"
added Bailey. "My bill will clarify that chambers of commerce can
receive 2 percent lodging tax monies to help finance their tourism
efforts."
Bailey said the 2 percent
lodging fee is not a new tax, but one that has been collected for many
years by cities and counties for the purposes of tourism promotion. Some
local governments, however, are not set up to promote tourism, she said.
So those governments, through a citizens' advisory committee, have
decided to provide funding to their local chambers of commerce for
tourism promotion and activities.
"The attorney general's
opinion indicated that cities and counties could only use this lodging
tax revenue for the total direct effort of tourism. And chambers were
excluded," said Bailey. "This bill works to clarify that
chambers may be included."
Bailey noted that her bill
would address the use of the funds for chambers of commerce, but it
would not broaden the scope of the law to allow other uses.
The bill will be heard
Thursday, Feb. 1, 10 a.m., in the House Community, Economic Development and Trade Committee,
House Hearing Room C, John L. O'Brien Bldg., Olympia.
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For more information, contact: John
Sattgast, Information Officer: (360) 786-7257
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