By Roger Lanse
Monday, June 27, the Silver City Town Council approved recommendations from the Lodgers' Tax Advisory Board regarding fiscal year 2017 lodgers tax distributions. Board members are Chairman Sandra Hicks, Vice Chairman Mitch Hellman, Nancy Johnson, Michelle Carrillo, and Janey Katz.
Before approving the community promotions proposal, Town Manager Alex Brown explained that lodgers tax funds are authorized by state statute and were adopted by the town of Silver City. The current lodgers' tax rate in Silver City is five percent of whatever is spent on lodging. If $100 is spent for a hotel room, $5 is added to the fund. The town uses these funds principally to promote tourist attractions and events and pay for related police, fire, and sanitation services. The LTAB advises council on how the lodgers' tax should be awarded. Council then awards 90-95 percent of the total lodgers' tax receipts to applicants, while the remainder goes to the Silver City Museum, overtime pay for the police and fire departments for activities that go on throughout the year, startup costs for new events, and sanitary services.
Brown continued that applicants submit their requests for lodgers' tax funds, which are given both to council and the advisory board to review and for the board to give their recommendations. Council then decides how to disburse the $225,000 budgeted for FY 2017.
Nine organizations submitted applications for lodgers' tax monies at MondayG