Salmon Arm council has taken what was described at Monday’s council meeting as a bold step regarding a hotel tax.
Council unanimously supported a plan (Mayor Nancy Cooper was absent) to advise the Columbia Shuswap Regional District of its intention to apply directly under the Municipal and Regional District Tax (or hotel tax) program, rather than via the regional district. It will also request a letter of support from the CSRD. Council also endorses the Salmon Arm Economic Development Society as the service provider for the city’s proposed MRDT program and requests that the society consults with tourism industry stakeholders such as Shuswap Tourism and accommodation providers to develop a proposed five-year strategic plan. Under the program, a hotel tax is collected by the province and then returned to a local body for distribution.