POULSBO — The Poulsbo Lodging Tax Advisory Committee is recommending the City Council approve the following grants for 2016.
— Poulsbo Marketing Coalition: $70,000.
— Historic Downtown Poulsbo Association: $23,500.
— Visit Kitsap: $23,500.
— North Kitsap Tourism Coalition: $3,000.
That’s according to Marc Abshire of the Greater Poulsbo Chamber of Commerce.
The awards listed in the story, “$110,000 in lodging tax grants awarded; off-season plan is tops” (A10, Oct. 2 North Kitsap Herald) incorrectly listed the awards approved in 2014 for 2015.
The total grant amount recommended for 2016 is an increase of $10,000 over the previous year.
The lodging tax, also referred to as the hotel-motel tax, is a consumer tax on lodging charges for periods of less than 30 consecutive days for hotels, motels, rooming houses, private campgrounds, RV parks, and similar facilities.
According to state law, the money can be used for activities, operations and expenditures designed to increase tourism. Specifically, lodging taxes can be used for tourism marketing; marketing and operations of special events and festivals designed to attract tourists; operations and capital expenditures of tourism-related facilities owned or operated by a municipality or a public facilities district; or operations of tourism-related facilities owned or operated by nonprofit organization.
In 1998, the city approved Ordinance 98-03 in accordance with RCW 82.08 and authorized by RCW 67.28.181 to levy an additional 2 percent tax on charges for lodging activity. In order to collect the additional 2 percent tax, the city was required to form a Lodging Tax Advisory Committee. The total tax collected now is 4 percent and the city accepts proposals from various groups and organizations for use of the 4 percent lodging tax for projects related to the cost of tourism promotion, acquisition of tourism-related facilities, or operation of tourism-related events and facilities.
Members of the advisory committee are Terri Douglas, Micah Kim, Greg Enright, Steve Swann, and Gary Nystul. Mary McCluskey, city parks and recreation director, is a non-voting member.
To learn more about the Lodging Tax Grant Program, visit www.cityofpoulsbo.com/parks/parks_hotel.htm.
