23 March 2009
In its Draft Ten Year Plan Tasman District Council is proposing to include a tourism rate to fund part of its contribution to Nelson Tasman Tourism.
The reason for charging a tourism rate is to ensure those who are direct beneficiaries of tourism pay a larger portion for the provision of the service than those who only indirectly benefit.
Council acknowledges that there is also a wider public benefit from tourism and is proposing that this component of the Nelson Tasman Tourism funding be paid from the general rate ($309,000) with the balance to come from the proposed tourism rate ($181,000).
Council has worked with several agencies to compile a database of benefiting ratepayers and Tourism Nelson Tasman is working to ensure there is adequate consultation on the proposed rate with those in the tourism industry.
It is proposed that Council set a new two-tiered targeted rate for all rateable properties in the District that fall within at least one of the following categories:
All rateable properties within Tasman District that:
• Hold a Health Licence as required by the Food Hygiene Regulations 1974, except sports clubs and/or charitable organisations.
• Hold either an on or off licence as required by the Sale of Liquor Act 1989, except sports clubs and/or charitable organisations.
• Are used for accommodation purposes.
• Are used for the sale of petroleum products.
• Hold a resource consent for a tourism related activity.
• Are used for passenger transport services.
• All retail or other businesses that are primarily or predominately targeted at the visitor market.
The proposed rate for the 2009/2010 year (in dollars per rating unit) for Tier 1 is $322.87, and Tier 2 $79.87.
Submissions to the draft Ten Year plan close on 27 April, 2009.
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