— Additional tax to begin October 1 —
(OSOYOOS TIMES — May 23, 2007) —
After a lengthy process which involved consultation with and approval by at least 51 per cent of local motel owners in town, Council passed the Osoyoos Additional Hotel Room Tax Levy Bylaw at its May 14 meeting.
Starting October 1st “ and for the next five years “ local motel and hotel operators in Osoyoos will begin collecting a two per cent Additional Hotel Room Tax (AHRT) from guests, drawing in an estimated $190,000 in annual revenue and an additional $190,000 from the province's new resort municipality funding program, announced a year ago.
The funds will be administered by Destination Osoyoos “ Town's economic development arm “ and a Tourism Advisory Committee (TAC), made up of members from the accommodation sector, will have a say in how the funds are used for additional tourism marketing and development. The Town of Osoyoos will have final approval of the TAC's proposed draft budget.
Carol Stephens, wife of the Osoyoos Hotel Motel Association (OHMA) President Ron Stephens, says seven people have agreed to be on the TAC and will be formally appointed to the Committee at a meeting in mid-June. The members will be deciding on the kinds of projects they will be doing to utilize the tourism marketing dollars.
The Town will send the bylaw to the province for ratification.
