SB403 Summary

• Reduces Cullman County's lodging tax rate from 5 percent to 4 percent upon retirement of debt for the Exit 305 Interchange, County Road 222, and the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce building at 301 2nd Ave SW.

• Decreases the maximum collection fee charged by the State Department of Revenue from 10 percent to 2.5 percent of total lodging tax collections.

• Establishes the Cullman County Tourism Bureau comprised of 8-9 members appointed by various entities including the City Council, Chamber of Commerce, County Commission, hotels, Wallace State Community College, and parks departments.

• Allocates tax proceeds as follows: two-fifths to the Chamber of Commerce (for operational expenses and debt retirement), one-fifth to the Tourism Bureau (for tourism promotion), and two-fifths to retire specific debts then transfer to Tourism Bureau upon completion.

• Becomes effective June 1, 2021, and requires the City of Cullman to transmit one-quarter percent of its lodging tax to the Cullman County Tourism Board.