Visitors bureau fights for share of tax
A decrease in the amount the Marietta-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau receives from Marietta's hotel and motel lodging "bed" tax would be detrimental to the CVB's efforts to promote the region, according to bureau executive director Jeri Knowlton.
"If our 3 percent portion of the tax is cut, it's going to diminish our effectiveness and limit opportunities to promote this area," she said. "And that would be damaging to our local attractions and businesses-every shop, dining facility and hotel, because we promote everybody."
Currently the city and CVB split the total 6 percent lodging tax 50/50, with 3 percent going into the city's general fund and 3 percent to the visitors bureau, but recently city council members have questioned whether to reduce the CVB's share. It may be the right time for that, they've said, since the bed tax has risen 5.5 percent in the last year and the cut would not have as much impact.
State law dictates how much lodging tax Ohio municipalities can assess. Towns that have convention and visitors bureaus may charge the full 6 percent allowed by law, but that revenue has to be shared with the CVB.
An ordinance enacted by city council in 2007 approved the even 50/50 split of the tax with the CVB. But by state code the city could amend that legislation and take up to another half of the bureau's 3 percent share for the city's general fund.
Although there's been no formal discussion so far, some city council members have suggested the possibility of reducing the CVB's lodging tax allocation and putting that money toward the annual operation expenses at Armory Square, once that renovation project is completed.
"We've not discussed it in finance committee at all, but I know we can't just take that money and put it into the armory," said finance chair Tom Vukovic, D-4th Ward.
He said the council members will eventually address the recommendation, but would probably wait until April when the CVB presents its quarterly report to the finance committee.
Councilman Harley Noland, D-at large, an ex-officio member of the convention and visitors bureau board of directors, believes a section of the state code governing the use of the bed tax allows the CVB to dedicate a portion of its 3 percent of the tax to support a museum.
"And we will have a room for a veteran's museum inside the armory," he said. "But we could also say the entire armory building is a museum as it will be an historic preservation project."
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Visitors bureau fights for share of tax