Voters to decide fate of tourism tax again
The Tourism Community Enhancement District Board of Directors will not dissolve the tax district as asked to by a local resident, but will instead place the tourism tax on the April 2004 ballot. The board of directors voted unanimously Monday, Aug. 18 to put the issue on the April 2004 ballot, after a lengthy discussion of possible dates.
The board had decided earlier to put the issue on the November 2003 ballot, but could not get ballot language, request for proposals and marketing contracts ready in time.Resident Gary Groman went before the Taney County Commission in June and asked the commission to rescind its order establishing the tax district. He also asked for a resolution supporting the concept that the board of directors dissolve the district.The commission did not take any action on either issue.
Several organizations have weighed in on when they thought the tax should be put on the ballot.A group, headed by Chip Mason, working to secure funds for a tourism tax campaign told the board they wanted the issue to go on the spring 2005 ballot.The Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Vice President Ross Summers said the chamber wanted April 2004 as the date for the tourism tax issue.
The City of Branson has a sunsetting transportation tax that will likely go on the ballot
in August 2004 or November 2004 to extend the sunset, and wanted to avoid a conflict with the tourism tax on the ballot.
New board member Chris Myer, replacing Steve Presley, said the board needed to make a decision to show that they are committed to getting the tax passed. “We want to ensure our tourism base and to grow it,” he said. “The longer we wait, the longer we delay that (helping the community economically).”
Summers agreed that the marketing money is needed as soon as possible. “We are right in the middle of working on the budget and it is abundantly clear that we are woefully under funded for marketing,” he said. “I think the sooner this gets on the ballot, the better everyone will be. Branson compared to other destinations is so far behind on marketing dollars it’s an embarrassment.”
The directors will now have to work on the request for proposals, create a marketing contract, determine the distribution of money, clean up the ballot language and figure out how much tax to ask for.Chairman Kent Turner said the board has a draft of the request for proposals and is currently working on a marketing contract that would be used with the entity that was awarded the bid to administer the tax money.
Turner said the ballot language will have to be turned in to the county clerk by February.Turner said while many are focusing on reasons to not vote for the tax, there are many reasons why people should vote for the tax. “One reason to vote for it is the decline of business we are having,” he said. “Some businesses are down 30 to 50 percent…We’ve lost our uniqueness. We need to face that.”
The proposed one-percent sales tax was defeated last year at the polls by a vote of 765 yes to 1,045 no. Surveys completed after the election showed that a large percentage of the community had questions concerning accountability.Board member David Cook said the chamber has done a good job to answer those questions and show accountability, but people keep focusing on the past. “I am a busy person, as I’m sure the rest of you are, and I will resign if we keep rehashing things,” he said. “We have got to move forward on this.”
Courtesy of Branson Daily Independent