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455 <br /> December 21,1983 <br /> The regular meeting of.e Everett City Council was called order <br /> at 8:00 p.m.,December 21,1983,in the Council Chambers of the <br /> Everett City Hall,President Pope presiding. <br /> NORMSHOP-HOTEL-MOTEL TAX INCREASE <br /> President Pope said Council would not be making any decisions on <br /> this issue and merely listen to information presented by St. <br /> Finkelstein of AWC. Should further action be desixed by Council, <br /> this would be put on the agenda at a later time. . <br /> Mr.Finkelstein Said that AWC was not taking any formal position <br /> whether or not Everett should or should not adopt.increase in <br /> the hotel/motel tax. He briefly explained the background of <br /> enabling legislation which allowed this increase. Under the law, <br /> this tax can only be impos.on transient lodging,which is defined <br /> as a hotel,rooming house,tourist court,motel or trailer court <br /> with more than 15 rooms and is rented for not more then 30 days by <br /> the same party. <br /> He said there is now a movement to repeal that tax and it is <br /> expected not to have difficulty in the next legislative <br /> Howeve,cities that le,this tax before it is repealed will be <br /> allowed to leave it in place until the bonds are retired on the <br /> facility for which these funds were designated. 1 T <br /> Mr.Finkelstein pointed out the proceeds of the special 38 excise <br /> tax can only be used to fund the acquisition,design and construction <br /> CUooptophopoyp <br /> of convention or trade facilities. If Everett imposed this tax the <br /> existing sales tax would be raised f.'s 7.81 to 10.88. <br /> =::forr:nr2naneltfnn=172‘Ttn11:=Irw::trenR:Tlit: <br /> Thunderbird chain. <br /> Z:Zi2ITT:N:ofIngurgo:a grl:12afTin XlagaTInantohgert <br /> workshop be held. <br /> gl,:bitl‘noIngrtm=:-"tn'people <br /> 0 <br /> 3 <br /> 0 <br /> 0 <br /> 13 <br /> Councilman Overstreet concurred but pointed out the City has been <br /> shV ing away from specifying that tne Jackson Center is the purpose <br /> for an increase in the hotel/motel tan. <br /> Councilman Stephenson said he was on the Jackson Center Foundation <br /> Board and they planned to take it back to the voters in a different <br />, format wi.a possible change in use. <br /> Dean Morgan,of the Thunderbird-R.Lion chain and speaking for the <br /> Lodging Association,spoke in opposition to the tax a.concern <br /> of the increase in room rates and affect on convention bookings. <br /> He said this would be very detrimental as the costs would either <br /> have to be passed on to the customer or absorbed by the industry. <br /> He said he felt the existing hotel/motel to will be repealed in the <br /> next legislative session as it is felt it is not an equitable tax. <br /> 111...111 <br />