67.28.1816 - Lodging tax -- Tourism promotion. - Washington Statutes

Lodging tax — Tourism promotion. (Expires June 30, 2013.)

(1) Lodging tax revenues under this chapter may be used, directly by local jurisdictions or indirectly through a convention and visitors bureau or destination marketing organization, for the marketing and operations of special events and festivals and to support the operations and capital expenditures of tourism-related facilities owned by nonprofit organizations described under section 501(c)(3) and section 501(c)(6) of the internal revenue code of 1986, as amended.

     (2) Local jurisdictions that use the lodging tax revenues under this section must submit an annual economic impact report to the *department of community, trade, and economic development for expenditures made beginning January 1, 2008. These reports must include the expenditures by the local jurisdiction for tourism promotion purposes and what is used by a nonprofit organization exempt from taxation under 26 U.S.C. Sec. 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6). This economic impact report, at a minimum, must include: (a) The total revenue received under this chapter for each year; (b) the list of festivals, special events, or nonprofit 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) organizations that received funds under this chapter; (c) the list of festivals, special events, or tourism facilities sponsored or owned by the local jurisdiction that received funds under this chapter; (d) the amount of revenue expended on each festival, special event, or tourism-related facility owned or sponsored by a nonprofit 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) organization or local jurisdiction; (e) the estimated number of tourists, persons traveling over fifty miles to the destination, persons remaining at the destination overnight, and lodging stays generated per festival, special event, or tourism-related facility owned or sponsored by a nonprofit 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) organization or local jurisdiction; and (f) any other measurements the local government finds that demonstrate the impact of the increased tourism attributable to the festival, special event, or tourism-related facility owned or sponsored by a nonprofit 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) organization or local jurisdiction.

     (3) The joint legislative audit and review committee must report to the legislature and the governor on the use and economic impact of lodging tax revenues by local jurisdictions since January 1, 2008, to support festivals, special events, and tourism-related facilities owned or sponsored by a nonprofit organization under section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) of the internal revenue code of 1986, as amended, or a local jurisdiction, and the economic impact generated by these festivals, events, and facilities. This report shall be due September 1, 2012.

     (4) Reporting under this section must begin with calendar year 2008.

     (5) This section expires June 30, 2013.

[2008 c 28 § 1; 2007 c 497 § 2.]

Notes: *Reviser's note: The "department of community, trade, and economic development" was renamed the "department of commerce" by 2009 c 565.