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Bath’s Hotel Motel tax to go to 20 applicants

by Trish Rudder

The Town of Bath’s Finance committee reviewed 26 applications last week, and chose 20 entities that fit the state’s criteria on how the hotel/motel tax can be distributed.

Town Recorder Susan Webster, who chairs the Finance committee, said half of the estimated revenue of about $90,000 goes to the local travel bureau, Travel Berkeley Springs, which is dictated by law.

The 20 applicants are comprised of those entities that are in compliance with state statute requirements such as public property projects like the town’s Streetscape, Rails and Trails, and Foxglove Garden Club.

The applicants were required to identify which permissible expenditure category covers the request from the town Occupancy Tax code under Chapter 7, Article 18.

The hotel/motel occupancy tax helps fund organizations that promote tourism, beautification, historical or cultural efforts in the town.

Each year the town’s Finance committee reviews the funding applications to determine how the organization/project will benefit tourism in the Town of Bath.

The Bath Town Council will make the final decision.

Webster said a letter to all the applicants will be sent after the budget is approved.

She said the total town budget has to be sent to the state’s auditor by March 28.

The budget is for the upcoming Fiscal Year that begins on July 1, 2023 and ends on June 30, 2024.

Budget preparation for the Town of Bath continued with discussions regarding Revenue and Public Works on March 7, at 8:30 a.m.; Town and Miscellaneous on March 8, at 8:30 a.m.; Public Safety on March 9 at 4:45 p.m. and an Overview of the Budget will be held on March 21 at 4 p.m.

All meetings are at Town Hall on 271 Wilkes Street in Berkeley Springs.

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