The board of commissioners approved a resolution to give one percent of the lodging tax increase to the Chamber of Commerce at its September 27th meeting. The move was yet another chapter in the continuing lodging tax saga. In July, the board approved an increase of the county lodging tax from 3 percent to 5 percent. Since the decision was made, several groups have petitioned the county for that one percent of revenue to go to their cause.

Back in August, representing the local Trout Unlimited chapter Mike Holloway and Roger Charbonneau requested the one percent revenue to be used to keep the lower Toccoa River stocked with trout, which is in danger of losing funding for the stocking of this portion of the river. Holloway and Charbonneau’s argument was that if the trout are no longer stocked in the river, then the trout population will decrease and drive away trout fishing tourism, which is a significant portion of the area’s tourism industry, affecting tour guides to fly shops to cabin rentals.

Then, later in August during the public hearings for the budget, representatives and advocates began petitioning the board for the one percent to go towards funding the Blue Ridge Community Theatre. President of theatre Patricia Webb told the board that in the past the theatre has never asked the county for any money, but is now. Also, advocate Joe Webb argued that funding for the theatre satisfies the tourism requirement—the stipulation with the lodging tax was that is must be used to support tourism.

As such, citizens have had several months to publicly express their opinions about the use of the lodging tax and the board to discuss the matter. And Tuesday, the board came to a decision.
The resolution allocates one percent of the increase, an estimated $140,000, to the Chamber of Commerce. Chamber President Jan Hackett explains “

the entire one percent will be spent on marketing and advertising to promote Fannin County (including Blue Ridge and McCaysville) as tourist destinations.”

Seemingly, the other one percent remains available for other county services. Although on the surface this may be true and perhaps may change in the future, for now, the other remaining one percent of lodging tax will stay with the county. According to County Clerk Rita Kirby, the remaining one percent will go in the general fund, where will it not be earmarked for any specific purpose.