The regional district approved a submission of application to the province for implementation of a two per cent hotel room tax in electoral areas C, D and the City of Grand Forks to fund tourism promotion at its regular board meeting Thursday.
The proposal has the support of local lodging owners, according to the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary (RDKB) staff report presented at the meeting. The proposal has now been sent to the province for approval, and the Boundary Museum Society will administer the funds.
There is no projected implementation date as of yet.
The report was presented by Chief Administrative Officer John MacLean, with the motion by Director Roly Russell and seconded by Vicki Gee.
MacLean noted the recommendation has changed from what was on the agenda to exclude “subject to the Boundary Museum Society agreeing to the proposed agreement.”
“The Boundary Museum Society has already approved the agreement,” he said.
MacLean added the museum has agreed to provide any financial information to the district that may be required by the province.
“The Boundary Museum Society has agreed to provide all necessary financial supports to us that we are required to provide in our report to the province,” MacLean said. “If anyone will get audited it will be us, but the museum society’s responsibility is to provide that information.”
Gee voiced her support for the motion and noted that she is supportive of a similar initiative in Area E.
“This is very exciting,” she said. “It would really benefit my area as well.”
Midway and Greenwood city councils decided last year not to support the proposal. Greenwood’s Acting Chief Administrative Officer Wendy Higashi said the accomodators in the area were not in support, and council decided to support the business owners.