Hotel tax input sought
Anyone wishing to have input regarding how the Fayette County commissioners should distribute the proceeds of the impending hotel occupancy tax will have a chance to have their say at a public meeting next week. The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 19, at the public service building on Main Street in Uniontown.
The 3 percent tax, which officials have estimated could bring in $750,000 annually, goes into effect on July 1. While the commissioners already have voted to implement the tax, an agreement must be put in place that spells out how proceeds of the tax will be spent.
Commissioners Vincent A. Vicites and Vincent Zapotosky have proposed one strategy, while Commissioner Angela M. Zimmerlink is advocating another.
The plan being advocated by Vicites and Zapotosky and approved by the Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau (LHVB) calls for allocating 50 percent of the proceeds from the tax to the LHVB for marketing.
The so-called memorandum of understanding also calls for using 25 percent for a grant program for nonprofit tourism organizations in Fayette County and 25 percent for Penn State Fayette, the Eberly Campus, to develop and launch a four-year degreed hotel restaurant and institutional management program. Previous estimates are that proceeds of the tax are expected to generate $750,000 annually. The lower of 2 percent, or $40,000, is allocated to the county treasurer’s office to collect the tax.
Zimmerlink’s proposal includes designating the lesser of 10 percent of taxes or $100,000 for LHVB for marketing; 50 percent for a grant program for nonprofit and for-profit groups through LHVB; 10 percent for the county to upgrade tourism sites and 28 percent for the county to use for money for a tourism visitor center.
The commissioners held a public meeting in March in which numerous people spoke about the tax.
Zimmerlink said Wednesday that the plan supported by Zapotosky and Vicites was developed in less than 30 days, specifically stating that they met on Jan. 31 and revealed their agreement on Feb 26.
“This 30-day period is insufficient time to consider all options. It is reasonable to explore all options before giving away $750,000 and the state tourism grants. While I understand this is an initiative of first-term commissioner Zapotosky which he wants to accomplish, it is more important to consider what is best for Fayette County and our tourism industry,” Zimmerlink said. “Other options have not been sufficiently and seriously considered despite what my fellow commissioners and the Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau state.”
Also, Zimmerlink recently has been asking the commissioners and LHVB to spell out specifics about what they claim cannot be done with respect to the allocation plan, however, she hasn’t received specifics.
Zapotosky said Act 142 spells out that the county commissioners and the tourism promotion agency must mutually agree upon any memorandum of understanding, adding that her proposal was not approved by the LHVB.
Also, Zapotosky said there has been ample time to discuss proposals.
“This hasn’t been rushed into. This was discussed beginning in the 2007 primary and through the general election at every public forum,” Zapotosky said.
He added that since he and Vicites voted to implement the tax, the commissioners have taken methodical steps toward implementing the tax.
Zapotosky said the specific grant program hasn’t been developed yet and he said once adopted, the memorandum of understanding can be changed as mutually agreed upon. Zapotosky asked how he could support Zimmerlink’s position when she hasn’t supported the proposal to enact the tax.
Zapotosky said he is looking forward to the public meeting and a good discussion and debate.
“If any ideas are better then the ones already proposed, I would be willing to accept them and adopt them,” Zapotosky said.
Vicites previously said he would welcome public input prior to adoption of the agreement.
Zapotosky said the memorandum of agreement must be adopted this month and it will be on the commissioner’s agenda and it will be put to a vote.
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