NC H397

Yancey County Board of Commissioners may levy an additional room occupancy tax of up to 3% on hotel, motel, inn, and tourist camp gross receipts, in addition to the existing 3% occupancy tax authorized under prior law, for a total potential 6% tax.

Creates a Yancey County Tourism Development Authority as a public authority to administer occupancy tax revenues, with membership requirements that at least one-third must be affiliated with tax-collecting businesses and at least one-half must be active in tourism promotion.

Authority must use at least two-thirds of net tax proceeds to promote travel and tourism and may use remaining one-third for tourism-related expenditures including lodging facilities, meeting facilities, and convention facilities.

County may retain up to 3% of the first $500,000 in annual gross proceeds and 1% of remaining proceeds to cover administration and collection costs.

Makes Yancey County subject to G.S. 153A-155 for tax administration, collection, and penalties, replacing previous local administration provisions.