[R.O. 1992 § 170.320; Ord. No. 99-8594 § 1, 5-17-1999; Ord. No. 07-10242 § 1, 5-7-2007]
A. Definitions. The terms used herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this Section and shall be construed as indicated in this Section.
HOTEL AND MOTELLodging facility for transient guests, including, but not limited to, bed-and-breakfast residences and bed-and-breakfast homestays.
TOURISM TAXAmount of tax levied, fixed, imposed and ordered collected on the charges for all sleeping rooms paid by the transient guests of hotels and motels situated in the City of Washington, Missouri, pursuant to the provisions of Subsection
(B) herein.
TRANSIENT GUESTA person who occupies a room or rooms in a hotel or motel for thirty-one (31) days or less during a calendar quarter.
B. Levy Of Tax. There is hereby levied, fixed, imposed and ordered collected a tax in the amount of five percent (5%) on the charges for all sleeping rooms paid by the transient guests of hotels or motels situated in the City of Washington, Missouri. This tax shall be in addition to any and all taxes imposed by law. Each person engaged in the business of operating a hotel or motel in the City of Washington, Missouri, shall collect the Tourism Tax and shall remit the same to the City Collector on or before the 30th day of the month following the end of the calendar quarter.
C. Convention, Visitor And Tourist Center Promotion. All revenues received from the Tourism Tax levied herein shall be utilized by the City of Washington, Missouri, solely for funding a convention and visitors bureau which shall be a general not for profit organization with whom the City has contracted, and which is established for the purpose of promoting the City as a convention, visitor and tourist center. The Tourism Tax shall be stated separately from all other charges and taxes.
D. Reports Required. Every person engaged in the business of operating a hotel or motel for transient guests located in the City of Washington, Missouri, shall file with the City Collector prescribed forms giving such information as may be necessary to determine the amounts to which the Tourism Tax shall apply for the calendar quarter to be submitted with the payment to be made in accordance with Subsection
(C) hereof.
E. Examination Of Books, Records. The City Collector or an authorized representative shall have the right at all reasonable times during business hours to make such examination and inspection of the books and records of the hotel or motel for transient guests as may be necessary to determine the correctness of the reports required by Subsection
(D) hereof.
F. Penalties For Non-Payment. Any Tourism Tax not paid within thirty (30) days after the last day of each calendar quarter shall be considered delinquent. There is hereby added to a penalty of one percent (1%) and interest of two percent (2%) per month on the unpaid taxes which are considered delinquent until paid. In addition to the penalties provided herein any person subject to the provisions of this Section who fails to collect and remit the Tourism Tax, file the prescribed forms or files a false or fraudulent form shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00) or by imprisonment not exceeding ninety (90) days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.