St. Bernard Parish Government
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 2, 2008
CONTACT:
Karen Turni Bazile, Executive Assistant to the President
St. Bernard Parish
504-278-4280 or 504-874-0980
to support hotel-motel tax
Measure to support tourism only charged to those staying overnight in hotel rooms, fishing lodges, bed and breakfasts or campgrounds
St. Bernard Parish President Craig P. Taffaro Jr. and the Parish Council are encouraging voters to support a proposition for a Hotel-Motel Tax that will be on the ballot Saturday, October 4.
This fee only will be charged to guests who stay overnight in a hotel-motel room, bed and breakfast, fishing lodge or campground. This is not a tax or fee charged to residents of St. Bernard Parish.
Since Hurricane Katrina, tourism efforts have been funded by a one-time “tourism recovery grant” that funded the development of the www.visitStBernard.com website, the production of commercials that aired on WWL-TV, print ads, promotional brochures and participation in tradeshows and other efforts marketing St. Bernard Parish as well as hosting the Oh Boy Oberto Redfish Cup, which aired on ESPN2.
These marketing and advertising campaigns brought visitors to St. Bernard from around the country, generating sales tax dollars that in turn has helped the local economy.
“Voting for this measure will fund more tourism activities and is not a tax on local people,” Taffaro said.
The fee cannot exceed 2% of the rental rate for the room. For example, for a room with a daily rate of $70, the fee would equal $1.40. The law requires the money collected from the fee to be used for tourism related activities.
The full text of the proposition as it will appear on the ballot is as follows:
Parishwide Proposition
Summary: 2% tax upon the rent or fee charged for the occupancy of hotel rooms, motel rooms, and overnight camping facilities within the jurisdiction of the St. Bernard Parish Tourist Commission (said Tax to be in addition to any other taxes thereon), with the proceeds of the Tax (after paying reasonable and necessary costs and expenses of collecting and administering the Tax) to be used for the purposes of attracting conventions and tourists into the area of the jurisdiction of the Commission, including, but not limited to, advertising, promotion and publication of information.
Shall the Parish of St. Bernard, State of Louisiana (the "Parish"), under the provisions of La. R.S. 33:4574.1, and other constitutional and statutory authority, be authorized to levy and collect, a tax of two percent (2%) (the "Tax"), upon the rent or fee charged for the occupancy of hotel rooms, motel rooms, and overnight camping facilities within the jurisdiction of the St. Bernard Parish Tourist Commission (said Tax to be in addition to any other taxes thereon) (an estimated $50,000 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the Tax for an entire year), with the proceeds of the Tax (after paying reasonable and necessary costs and expenses of collecting and administering the Tax) to be used for the purposes of attracting conventions and tourists into the area of the jurisdiction of the Commission, including, but not limited to, advertising, promotion and publication of information?
