The Warren County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution to establish a Warren County Tourism Development Authority.
State and local statutes require establishing a TDA to oversee revenue generated by the newly levied 5 percent occupancy tax on short-term lodging.
The occupancy tax is not a property tax; rather, it is similar to sales tax, in that it is passed on to visitors and occupants of short-term rental lodging facilities. While the tax is collected by the Warren County Finance Office, the established TDA board is the sole entity that oversees how revenues are spent.
Revenue must be spent on tourism and marketing and tourism-related infrastructure.
Individuals interested in participating should complete a statement of interest before Aug. 9. The form
can be found on the www.warrencountync.com website or by visiting https://www.warrencountync.com/FormCenter/County-Commissioners-9/Statement-of-Interest-to-Serve-on-the-Wa-79
The TDA composition includes:
- One (1) Town of Macon representative recommended by the Town of Macon’s Board of Commissioners to be appointed to a three-year term.
- One (1) Town of Norlina representative recommended by the Town of Norlina’s Board of Commissioners to be appointed to a three-year term.
- One (1) Town of Warrenton representative recommended by the Town of Warrenton’s Board of Commissioners to be appointed to a three-year term.
- One (1) representative recommended by the Lake Gaston Regional Chamber of Commerce to be appointed to a three-year term; this representative should be staff of the Chamber, or a member of the Chamber’s board that is also a Warren County-based business owner.
- The Director of Warren County Community and Economic Development (CED). The CED Director’s term is not limited to the number of years.
- One (1) short-term rental owner to be appointed to a two-year term; this membership position is intended to be filled by a property owner renting out a private residence as a short-term rental.
- One (1) Warren County hotel, motel, or bed-and-breakfast operator to be appointed to a two-year term; in the absence of such a business, this member can be a private residence short-term rental owner.
- One (1) Warren County tourism-related business owner to be appointed to a two-year term.
For more information on the Warren County occupancy tax, visit https://www.warrencountync.com/876/Occupancy-Tax-5.
Contact Paula Pulley, clerk to the Board of Commissioners, at paulapulley@warrencountync.gov or call 252.257.3115 to learn more about serving on the county’s boards and commissions.
