Guidelines for Hotel/Motel Tax reimbursements were recently presented at a Jefferson City Council meeting.
An election was held in 2001 instituting a seven percent tax on hotels and motels in the City of Jefferson. The ballot stipulated that at least 80 percent of the revenue from the tax be allocated to the Jefferson Area Chamber of Commerce for promotion and encouragement of tourism in the City and the surrounding area, while the remaining 20 percent will be given to the City’s Park and Recreation Department.
Several Greene County Chamber members were in attendance at Tuesday’s City Council meeting to propose using the tax to help pay for the Welcome Center at 201 East Lincoln Way and use funds to disperse to other entities for tourism.
City Administrator Mike Palmer says at the time when the election was held, the tax generated about $25,000 per year. Since Cobblestone Hotel opened its new 73-room facility, it is projected that there will be an increase to $80,000 in revenue. Palmer notes that since the ordinance states that 80 percent of revenues are given for tourism purposes, the Council needed to create a set of criteria to determine what qualifies for reimbursement. A list of the proposed criteria can be found by clicking the link below.
Palmer says the Council decided Tuesday to have the criteria brought back to the committee level.
“They’ve invited a representative in from the Chamber of Commerce, along with representatives from other non-profit organizations to re-look at these criteria and come back to the City Council with its recommendations.”
He expects to have the recommendations by no later than the September 22nd Council meeting.