Section 67.665 - Tourism tax may be levied by certain lakefront counties, rate - tourism fund created - use of revenues - tourism committee, appointment, terms, duties - transient guest defined - refunds and penalties1. The county commission of any county bordering on a lake having at least one hundred and ten miles of shoreline may levy a tax not to exceed three percent on the amount of sales, rents or charges for all sleeping rooms paid by the transient guests of hotels, motels, condominiums and space rented campgrounds and houseboats situated within such county. The tax shall be known as a "tourism tax" and shall be deposited by the county treasurer in a separate fund to be known as the "Tourism Fund". The county commission shall appropriate from the tourism fund.2. The person, firm or corporation, subject to any tax imposed pursuant to sections 67.665 and 67.667 shall collect the tax from the transient guests, and each such transient guest shall pay the amount of the tax due to the person, firm or corporation required to collect the tax.3. The tax imposed pursuant to the provisions of sections 67.665 and 67.667 shall be in addition to any and all other taxes and licenses.4. The revenues received from any tax imposed under the provisions of sections 67.665 and 67.667 shall be used exclusively for the general area advertising and promotion of tourism business for the region from which it is collected but shall not be spent for specific areas within the county or counties comprising such region.5. The governing body of a county levying a tax under the provisions of sections 67.665 and 67.667 shall appoint a tourism committee comprised of five persons, a majority of whom are engaged in the hotel or motel business in the county. Of the members first appointed, two shall serve for a term of three years, two shall serve for a term of two years, and one shall serve for a term of one year. Their successors shall serve for a term of three years, and may serve for more than one term. The members shall serve without compensation.6. The tourism committee of any county shall allocate funds concerning programs and expenditures to promote conventions and tourism in the county, and may contract with any public or private agency, individual, partnership, association, or corporation for the furnishing of services and supplies for such activities. As used in this section, "transient guests" means a person or persons who, for a charge, occupy a room or rooms in a hotel, motel, condominium, houseboats or space at campgrounds for thirty-one days or less during any calendar quarter. The county commission shall permit the person required to remit the tax to deduct and retain an amount equal to two percent of the taxes collected. All refunds and penalties as provided in sections 144.010 to 144.510 are hereby made applicable to violation of this section.L. 1982 S.B. 711 § 10
Effective 5/20/1982