SidneyB次元官网网址檚 not sleeping on a bid by town hoteliers to implement a tax B次元官网网址� but not everyoneB次元官网网址檚 in bed with the idea.

Council approved sending a letter of support to have the Sidney Business Improvement Area apply for a hotel tax B次元官网网址� officially called a Municipal and Regional District Tax B次元官网网址� that the business organization would manage.

The BIA asked for support to put into effect a three-per-cent hotel tax from 2025 to 2030, which would generate $410,000 annually from 2025 to 2030. It would impact six hotels with 257 rooms that have a 65 per cent average occupancy and an average $200 daily rate. The funds would be allocated to promoting the town as an overnight destination, specifically targeting the shoulder season of October through May.

Three members voiced concern while Couns. Terri OB次元官网网址橩eeffe and Steve Duck outright voted against showing support during the Dec. 2 council meeting B次元官网网址� citing a lack of a business plan and robust enough engagement.

The provincial program, which allows for a tax of up to three per cent on sales of short-term accommodation in participating areas of the province, started in 1987 to help grow revenue, visitation and jobs. Designated recipients can be local government, districts or a not-for-profit; in Sidney's case, the hotel group is specifically seeking to have the BIA handle the funds.

Sidney BIA and the Sidney Hotel Group are seeking the full three per cent tax with 0.2 per cent withheld as a contribution to support B.C. tourism programs, leaving 2.8 per cent of the levied tax to be returned to the BIA for its programs.

As two separate initiatives, it would not change funding for the Sidney BIA, staff told council in response to a question from Duck.

BIAs are funded through a special property tax on commercial properties within a specific boundary B次元官网网址� in Sidney, that encompasses businesses between the waterfront and the Pat Bay Highway. Coun. Richard Novek questioned whether the town considered administering the tax. Staff noted the hotel group specifically seeks to have the Sidney BIA administer the tax.

OB次元官网网址橩eeffe took the BIA question a step further, seeking clarity on the amount of engagement, pointing out that the hotel tax would apply to the entire municipality, while the BIA doesnB次元官网网址檛.

B次元官网网址淵es itB次元官网网址檚 the hotels group that has brought this forwardB次元官网网址� but itB次元官网网址檚 not just a tax for the hotel group to administer as they see fit. ItB次元官网网址檚 funds that are to come in that are to be for the benefit of the entire community,B次元官网网址� OB次元官网网址橩eeffe said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 important if thereB次元官网网址檚 this amount of money to be coming in that there be broader stakeholder consultation.B次元官网网址�

She pointed to the Sidney parks budget which increases each year as the town aims for a high standard for visitors.

B次元官网网址�(The Sidney BIA) mandate under their constitution and bylaws is restricted to the downtown area, and thatB次元官网网址檚 who theyB次元官网网址檙e required to support,B次元官网网址� OB次元官网网址橩eeffe said.

OB次元官网网址橩eeffe suggested consultation should have included restaurants, attractions, retail businesses and others involved in tourism outside of the Sidney core B次元官网网址� perhaps as far afield as Destination Greater Victoria.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 feel itB次元官网网址檚 my place to tell the Sidney Hotel Group who they should choose,B次元官网网址� Coun. Scott Garnett said later in the meeting. B次元官网网址淚 like the fact we have a local group that knows our community. We often get lost in the shuffle in Victoria on many things.B次元官网网址�

The ask is a tourism initiative to benefit tourism in an increasingly competitive environment, Mayor Cliff McNeill-Smith said ahead of the vote.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 coming before council because we as the policy makers for the community need to determine if there is a detriment to our community from implementation of this. I do not see a detriment,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hey are the ones that are imposing this tax on their rooms, on their services for their guests, to the benefit of tourism for our community which will have spillover effects for the larger community.B次元官网网址�

The Capital Regional District board is scheduled to consider a similar request during its Dec. 11 meeting.

Should the application be approved by the province, the hotel tax could begin in late 2025.