Relates to the tourist home, inn, hotel or motel tax in Saratoga county and the city of Saratoga Springs

1 Co-sponsor

• Hugh T. Farley

BILL NUMBER:S4547

Title of bill

An act to amend the tax law, in relation to the tourist home, inn, hotel or motel tax in Saratoga county and the city of Saratoga Springs

Purpose

To further promote tourism and other economic development by reallocating Saratoga County's room occupancy tax and restructuring the composition of the advisory committee.

Summary of provisions

Section 1 amends subdivision 9 of section 1202-g of the tax law to allocate 50% of the monies currently allocated to Saratoga County for the promotion of tourism and conventions and received from the County's room occupancy tax, to the Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership, Inc. for the promotion of tourism and other economic development-related purposes.

The membership composition of the Committee to advise the Board of Supervisors on expenditures made by the County for the promotion of tourism and conventions is also revised.

Section 2 states the effective date.

Justification

The Saratoga County Economic Development Strategic Plan identifies Saratoga County's economy as being built on three pillars: tourism, agriculture and business and industry. In accord with the strategic plan, the County Board of Supervisors authorized by resolution the formation of the Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership, Inc., a not-for-profit local development corporation to undertake certain projects and initiatives for the economic benefit of Saratoga County. The County Board of Supervisors has requested this home rule legislation to allocate 50% of the monies currently allocated to Saratoga County for the promotion of tourism and conventions and received from the County's room occupancy tax, to the Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership, Inc. for the promotion of tourism and other economic development-related purposes. The remaining 50% of the County's tax share will continue to be allocated for the promotion of tourism and conventions.

Since the enactment of tax law section 1202-g which imposed the room occupancy tax in Saratoga County, prominent tourism promotion entities have been formed in Saratoga County such as Saratoga Springs City Center Authority and the Saratoga Convention and Tourism Bureau. These entities have played a critical role in the local economy by promoting and marketing Saratoga County and the City of Saratoga Springs as a world-class destination for meetings, conventions and groups. As such, the Saratoga Board of Supervisors' home-rule request includes the recomposition of its nine-member committee which advises the Board on expenditures made by the County for the promotion of tourism and conventions, to include representatives of these entities.

This legislation provides that the committee be comprised of: the Chair of the Board of Supervisors, the Chair of the Board's Economic Development Committee, the Chair of the Board's Law and Finance Committee, and one member of the Board of Supervisors who also serves as a Director of the Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership. Inc., one representative from the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, one representative from the Chamber of Southern Saratoga County, one representative from the Saratoga Convention and Tourism Bureau, one representative from the Saratoga Springs City Center Authority and the Saratoga County Treasurer.

This legislation will provide Saratoga County with the advice and the means to further its tourism, convention and economic development endeavors.

Legislative history

This is a new bill

Fiscal implications

None to the State. With economic development, higher revenue received for Saratoga County.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall become law.