The region’s representative in the state senate, Don East, however, said he would not support a similar measure should it be introduced in the senate.
Room occupancy taxes are already in place in all of the local townships and cities in Surry County, but those not located in any town’s city limits are exempt from the tax.
Stevens said she is not in favor of new taxes, but this tax will be aimed at those who are traveling to or through the county.
“Basically we already have an occupancy tax for Mount Airy and for Pilot Mountain and for Elkin and for Dobson. So this occupancy tax will only affect the unincorporated regions and it will also allow them participation with the tourism development authority. They are doing lots of wonderful things with it. They are doing great things to promote all of Surry County. They just requested that this would be an additional way to pull the whole county together,” Stevens said Tuesday.
McCormick mimicked Stevens’ statement. “Surry County is blessed to be able to need an occupancy tax. What this does is just put extra money back into the marketing dollars to market the region,” McCormick said.
The occupancy tax that is already in place goes to the local tourism development authorities. Those groups will in turn give a portion of the money to the Tourism Partnership of Surry County, chaired by Valerie Oberle. If the bill that McCormick and Stevens have sponsored becomes law, the extra money will go to those organizations.
The bill targets most for-profit lodging establishments, including hotels, motels, and bed and breakfast inns, while accommodations furnished by nonprofit charitable, educational or religious organizations are exempt.
McCormick said he whole-heartedly supports the bill.
“This is a great tax. You have to have tourism for this to work. When people come to Surry County to visit — they in a sense help promote Surry County as a destination. It’s that simple,” he said.
“It’s not a tax that hits the locals at all, unless you go across the street to stay in a bed and breakfast, in that case all you are doing is helping to contribute to the marketing of your area,” McCormick said.
Don East said he would never be in favor of the legislation, but he also “won’t stand in the way of it,” he said.
“That issue has been around forever, and I’m not in favor of little incremental tax increases, including that one, but there are a good number of people who want it and I have pledged to the bill sponsors that I will not stand in the way of it,” East continued.
McCormick said the occupancy tax in Surry County is not a new idea.
“This is not rocket science, we didn’t figure out something brilliant to help us that hasn’t been done before. But we just wanted to make sure we didn’t miss an opportunity to utilize something that is already in existence,” McCormick said. “Any place that you have ever rented a room — any place that has tourism already has this in place already.”
Contact Mondee Tilley at mtilley@mtairynews.com or at 719-1930.
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