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Putting teeth in room tax ordnance
Ford said according to a state law passed in 2006, the county, but not the county's Travel and Tourism board, has the authority to levy penalties on lodging facilities who do not collect and pay the county room tax. "We're asking for your help because certain businesses are not collecting the tax," Ford said. Saying it was not fair to the businesses who do collect and turn over monies collected to the tourism board, which Ford says is put to good use by funding such projects as helping to build the Jack Rabbit Bike Trail and relocating the Pioneer Village from Tusquittee to downtown Hayesville, Ford said they could do more to promote quality of life in Clay County and increase tourism if all lodging businesses were required to pay, which would provide the tourism board more funds. He pointed out that all the folks who serve on the board are volunteers and serve at their own expense. "We're here to see if you are willing to put some teeth in the already existing ordnance requiring the collection of this tax," Ford said. "To find out if the dog is going to bite." According to Ford, there are 30 or more businesses who should be paying the lodging tax, who are not. "All you have to do is check the web to see the list of businesses who are advertising rooms for rent," Ford said. McLamb said collection of the tax had gotten somewhat better, lately. She estimated about half lodging businesses were collecting the tax and half were not. Commissioner Harry Jarrett said he feels that if the county is going to have the room tax, it needs to be applied across the board. "There needs to consequences for those who do not comply," he said.
After some discussion, the commissioners charged the Travel and Tourism board with making a proposal on how to handle the issue and bringing it back to the commissioners for approval.
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