(Okoboji)– The Okoboji City Council Tuesday evening approved a revision to an ordinance pertaining to the city’s lodging tax. City Administrator Michael Meyers told the council it streamlines the distribution of that part of the proceeds dedicated to the promotion of tourism…
“The only thing that this does is remove the language pertaining to the Okoboji Marketing Committee. So the city of Okoboji is still required by state law to give half of our Hotel/Motel Tax for tourism promotion. This just removes the city appointed Okoboji Marketing Committee Board.”
Meyers adds that instead of the funds being funneled through that board, they will now go directly to the Okoboji Tourism Committee.
The council also voted to discontinue a tax increment finance district in the city that was created in the late 1990’s to fund the placement of some utilities under Highway 71 as it was being re-built at that time.
Meyers also informed the council they are keeping close tabs on the impacts the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to have on several of the city’s revenue streams…
“Specifically as it pertains to our Hotel/Motel Tax, Local Option Sales Tax, and our Road Use Tax which are all use-driven revenues for the city. Right now it’s really impossible to predict what that may or may not do, but that’s kind of what we need to keep in mind as we go into the future with this continuing to impact our communities and our country.”
Meyers added depending on the severity of the impact, the city may have to shuffle a few things around in the budget.
