Occupancy tax change has support of county

The Alleghany County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to give their approval to changes to the county’s occupancy tax policy after a public hearing on Monday.

The changes would include requiring all rentals in the county to charge a 3 percent occupancy tax. Currently, only those with five or more units charge the tax.

An earlier proposed version of the changes included the option to increase the tax to 6 percent in the future, but that measure was not in the final draft version of the changes that was presented to the county. In addition, the bill would require the county to submit those funds to the Alleghany Chamber of Commerce and at least two-thirds would have to be spent on promoting the county to travelers who would likely spend one or more nights in the county. In other words, the occupancy tax funds cannot be spent to promote one-day events.

Leanne Murray, executive director of the Alleghany Chamber of Commerce, estimates the change will bring in about $19,000 in revenue — money that will be used to promote the county as a tourist destination. The county currently collects around $26,000 per year in occupancy tax.

The commissioners agreed to support the change, which must first be passed by the N.C. General Assembly as a local bill and then approved locally by the county in order to be put in effect. The local bill on the state level gives the county the ability to levy the tax. Murray said the move required the voiced support of the county in order to be approved in Raleigh.

“I don’t have to legally have your support, but the state wouldn’t pass it without it,” she told the commission.

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