The members of Jefferson County’s Tourism Coordinating Council do not dispute the need for funds enabling more affordable housing, especially work-force housing needed by the hospitality industry. But this is NOT the time to draw money away from the hospitality industry, the industry most heavily impacted by the COVID pandemic and related economic downturn. The hard-hit hospitality industry will remain a very important economic driver through recovery, and as soon as it is again safe and sustainable to do so, lodging tax dollars will be needed to inspire, stimulate demand, and get people traveling and spending again.
Lodging taxes generated by RCW 67.28.180 and 3 67.28.1816, cannot be viewed as presently unencumbered and available for the additional uses outlined in HB 1069, and furthermore, we do not expect to see the same historically high lodging tax revenue levels we enjoyed in 2018 and 2019 returning for a couple of years. We respectfully register a position OPPOSING HB 1069.