TOURISM: Time to make it pay
Like The Press and others I know it’s time for our city to generate incremental operating revenue from visiting tourists. I am writing to support city council collaboration with our state representatives to lobby the state to amend Idaho Code Sections 50-1044 and 50-1046. This statute allows “resort cities” dependent on tourism to collect special visitor taxes. Because Coeur d’Alene has over 10,000 residents, we are currently excluded.
Idaho’s statute acknowledges that towns with high tourist demand need financial relief beyond local property taxes to maintain heavily impacted infrastructure. Nearby destinations like Sandpoint, McCall and Stanley successfully use these special tourist taxes. This is a common and proven practice around the world.
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