Lodging Tax Advisory Committee
Fife's Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) was established to advise the City Council on how to use City lodging tax revenue for tourism promotion or tourism facility purposes.  There are seven members on Fife's Committee.

State law requires that cities with a Lodging Tax Fund establish such an advisory committee.  State law also identifies how the Fund may be used and the type of individuals to be appointed to the committee.
The proposal deadline for 2012 tourism-promotion contracts is August 16, 2011.

Resources

• 2012 Proposal Process and Forms- Open only for 2012 special events
• Committee Recommendations- Coming Soon 
• Lodging Tax Advisory Committee RCWs

Members

• Rob Cerqui, Councilmember and Chair
• Darshan (Shawn) Randhawa, Travelodge - representing lodging establishments
• Debbie Dymarkowski, Emerald Queen Hotel & Casino - representing lodging establishments
• Mark Horace, Extended Stay America- representing lodging establishments
• Aaron Williams , Executive Director, Fife Regional Chamber of Commerce - representing tourism promotion groups
• Loretta Heymann, Fife Historical Society - representing tourism promotion groups 
• Tim Waer, Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Commission- representing tourism promotion groups

Membership Criteria
Fife's Lodging Tax Advisory Committee has six (7) members.  A majority of the members must reside in the City of Fife or represent agencies located in Fife.

By State law, the Committee must have at least five (5) members:

• two members to representative businesses required to collect the tax,
• two members to represent activities authorized to be funded by the tax,
• one member from the Fife City Councilmember who serves as the Chair of the Committee.

Term of Appointment
None at this time.

Appointment Date
Mid-November

Meeting Date, Time, Place
Meetings are scheduled as needed - usually three meetings per year, one each in May, September and October.

Staff Liaison
Laurel Potter, Marketing Coordinator
City of Fife, 253-896-8606, email

Address Correspondence to:
Lodging Tax Advisory Committee
c/o Laurel Potter, Marketing Coordinator
City of Fife
5411 23rd Street East
Fife, WA 98424

Fife's Lodging Tax Fund and Advisory Committee
The Lodging Tax is an excise (sales) tax authorized by State law in RCW 67.28, Public Stadium, Convention, Arts and Tourism Facilities.  It is paid by people who stay overnight in a lodging establishment such as a hotel, motel, bed and breakfast facility, or camp ground.

In the City of Fife, the total sales tax on lodging is 10.4%. 

By state law, the Lodging Tax may be used to promote tourism events, locations, and activities for the purpose of attracting visitors. Lodging tax revenue may also be used to pay for capital costs for some tourism-related facilities, the operation of visitor/convention agencies, and the marketing of or the operation of special events and festivals designed to attract tourists.

The Committee establishes an annual service proposal process.  The Committee reviews the information and makes its recommendations to the City Council in November when the Council is considering budget proposals for the next year.

The Committee's recommendations are advisory in nature only.  The City Council decides how to use the Lodging Tax Fund within the parameters of the State law.  By State law, the Committee is comprised of a Councilmember who serves as Chair, two members from the lodging establishments in the City who pay the tax, and two members who represent potential recipients of the funds.

Direct questions about the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee proposal process to staff liaison Laurel Potter.