Chamber proposes tourism tax district

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Chamber proposes tourism tax district

BRANSON, MO- The live entertainment capital wants to make sure it continues to attract visitors.

As a result, the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce has proposed establishing a tourism tax district. If voters agree, businesses in the district would charge a 1-cent sales tax that would be used to promote tourism in the southwest Missouri region.

The move follows the signing of a bill by Gov. Bob Holden that allows communities in Barry, Taney, Stone and Ozark counties to create a Tourism Community Enhancement District to promote tourism.

The current proposal includes the city of Branson as well as the village of Indian Point and Silver Dollar City Inc. properties, both part of Stone County, said Randy Fiveash, chamber director.

Fiveash explained the proposal to about 40 people during a public hearing Tuesday night at Branson City Hall. The chamber hopes to put the measure on the November ballot.

Stone County Presiding Commissioner Tony DeLong said the proposal could create a problem for Stone County, which plans to ask voters for a 1 percent sales-tax increase in November.

Depending on how the tourism tax district boundaries are drawn, some Stone County voters might be included who don't want to be part of the district, DeLong said. That could mean some in Stone County could face two tax issues in November.

Seventy-five percent of the tourism tax revenue would go to the chamber for marketing. Twenty percent would be divided among local school districts and cities for senior citizen and youth programs.

"It's hard to speak against an issue that represents so much motherhood and apple pie," DeLong said. "It's very important to consider those boundary lines. In Stone County, our top priority is water quality, so we'll have competing issues on the ballot."

Rosella Hamilton, director of Table Rock Lake-Kimberling City Area Chamber of Commerce, said after the meeting that passage of the Stone County sales tax is crucial for the county. The revenue would be equally divided for infrastructure, water quality and tourism marketing.

"We believe we can no longer promote tourism in our area unless we make sure we are taking care of those other areas," Hamilton said. "The lake is the lifeblood of our community."

The next step is to get petitions signed by 2 percent of registered voters within the proposed districts, Fiveash said.

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