Voters in a part of the Lakes Region will be asked to approve a Tourism Tax to increase the area's ability to get the message out to visitors.
The County Tourism Tax will appear on Ballots in most of southern Stone County, which is a proposed 3% tax that would be charged at hotels, motels, and short-term rentals in that area.
President/CEO of the Table Rock Lake Chamber of Commerce Shelia Thomas, during an interview on KRZK's "Ozarks Now" program, stated that the suggestion for going to the voters came from interviews during their assessment process as part of the "Launch Stone County" Economic Development initiative where several people interviewed suggested giving tourism leaders more ability to specifically promote the Table Rock Lake area.. Thomas said state law only allows either a retail tax or tourism tax to accomplish that goal and all involved thought that using the tax and having visitors fund the tax was the best way forward.
The Tourism Taxing District if approved would include voting precincts Flat Creek A and Ruth A and all precincts south of that location with one exception. The Indian Point/Silver Dollar City area is not included due to it already being a part of the Branson/Lakes Area Tourism Community Improvement District.
More information on the ballot issue can be found online.
The complete interview with Sheila Thomas, which includes updates from the Table Rock Lake Chamber of Commerce, can be found below:
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