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Indian Trail council places room occupancy tax question on municipal ballot
Summary
The council voted unanimously to put a room occupancy tax referendum on the upcoming municipal ballot; staff said the town must notify the board of elections by the deadline and that the city would form a tourism board if voters approve.
The Indian Trail Town Council voted unanimously to place a referendum on the municipal ballot asking voters whether to adopt a room occupancy tax.
Town staff reminded the council that adding the referendum itself carries no extra charge to the town; the town already faces the regular municipal election cost the board of elections charges (staff cited $52,000 as the election cost). Council members debated timing and strategy; some members argued the measure was defeated in the previous election and preferred to hold off, while others said the town should again let voters decide and that an occupancy tax would only apply to visitors (hotels and short-term rentals) and could fund tourism-related projects including parks and event programming.
Staff said that if voters approve the tax, the council will appoint a tourism board to recommend how the funds are spent within tourism-related categories governed by state law. Staff noted staff capacity constraints if the council wanted an active public-education campaign like one used during the prior referendum.
The motion to call for the referendum passed unanimously; the council instructed staff to file the required resolution with the board of elections by the statutory deadline.
