SB 2155 — City of Laurel; authorize tax on hotels and motels to promote tourism.

Finance COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL NO.

2155 +(As Sent to Governor) AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES OF THE CITY OF LAUREL, MISSISSIPPI, TO LEVY A TAX IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED THREE PERCENT UPON THE GROSS PROCEEDS OF SALES OF HOTELS AND MOTELS DERIVED FROM ROOM RENTALS FOR THE PURPOSE OF GENERATING REVENUE TO PROMOTE TOURISM;

2155 *SS08/R761CS**SS26/R761SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~ L3/5N3/5 22/SS08/R761CS22/SS26/R761SG PAGE 1 designed for dwelling, lodging or sleeping purposes to transient guests on a daily, weekly or monthly basis and located within the limits of the city.

(f) "Tax" means the taxestax authorized by Section 2 of this act.

(1) For the purpose of providing funds to promote tourism in the city, including, but not limited to, staffing, leasing, purchasing, building, constructing, improving and renovating facilities for tourism, providing public safety to promote tourism, and funding advertising and marketing campaigns to promote and enhance tourism, the governing authorities are authorized, in their discretion, to levy, assess and collect from every person or entity operating a hotel or motel, in addition to all other taxes currently being levied, assessed and collected, a tax not to exceed three percent (3%) of the followinggross taxes:proceeds of sales of room rentals for each such hotel or motel.

(a)(2) APersons taxor notentities toliable exceedfor onethe percenttax (1%)shall ofadd the grossamount proceeds of salesthe oftax roomto rentalsthe forsales eachprice suchand hotelshall orcollect motel;the amount S.

and S.

2155 *SS08/R761CS**SS26/R761SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 22/SS08/R761CS22/SS26/R761SG PAGE 2 (b)of Athe tax ofdue Oneby Dollarthem ($1.00)from perthe dayperson forreceiving eachthe occupiedservices hotelat orthe moteltime room.of payment.

(2) Persons or entities liable for the tax shall add the amount of the tax to the sales price and shall collect the amount of the tax due by them from the person receiving the services at the time of payment.

All qualified electors of the city may vote, and the ballots used in the election shall have printed thereon a brief statement of the amount and purposes of the proposed tax levy and the words "FOR THE TOURISM PROMOTION TAX" and, on a separate line, "AGAINST THE TOURISM PROMOTION TAX," and the voters shall vote by placing a S.cross (X) or check (✓)opposite their choice on the proposition.

After the results of the election have been canvassed and certified, the city may levy the tax if a majority of the S.

2155 *SS08/R761CS**SS26/R761SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 22/SS08/R761CS22/SS26/R761SG PAGE 3 crossqualified (X)electors orwho checkvote (✓)oppositein theirthe choiceelection onvote in favor of the proposition.tax.

After the results of the election have been canvassed and certified, the city may levy the tax if a majority of the qualified electors who vote in the election vote in favor of the tax.

(4) The records reflecting the receipts and expenditures of the revenue from the tax shall be audited annually by an S.independent certified public accountant, and the accountant shall make a written report of his audit to the governing authorities.

The audit shall be made and completed as soon as practicable after S.

2155 *SS08/R761CS**SS26/R761SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 22/SS08/R761CS22/SS26/R761SG PAGE 4 independentthe certifiedclose publicof accountant,the fiscal year, and theexpenses accountantof shallthe makeaudit amay writtenbe reportpaid offrom histhe auditfunds toderived from the governingtax authorities.authorized in this act.

The audit shall be made and completed as soon as practicable after the close of the fiscal year, and expenses of the audit may be paid from the funds derived from the tax authorized in this act.

(c) To contractemploy orsuch providepersonnel fundingas todeemed othernecessary governmentalby entities,the including,governing butauthorities notto limitedcarry to,out Jonesthis County;act;

and (d) To employexercise suchactivities personnelrelated asto deemedpromoting necessarytourism byin the governingcity, authoritiesincluding, but not limited to, contracting with other entities, preparing marketing and advertising campaigns and marketing and staging events to carrypromote outtourism thisin act;the city.

(e) To contract for a term not to exceed ten (10) years with the governing authorities or other public or private organizations to promote tourism in the city;

and (f) To exercise activities related to promoting tourism in the city, including, but not limited to, preparing marketing S.

B.

No.

2155 *SS08/R761CS* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 22/SS08/R761CS PAGE 5 and advertising campaigns and marketing and staging events to promote tourism in the city.

Subject to the provisions of this act, and provided there is no indebtedness or obligation outstanding under this act, the governing authorities are authorized to discontinue theS. tax levied under this act by adopting a resolution to that effect.

B.

No.

2155 *SS26/R761SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 22/SS26/R761SG PAGE 5 the tax levied under this act by adopting a resolution to that effect.

2155 *SS08/R761CS**SS26/R761SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 22/SS08/R761CS22/SS26/R761SG ST: