Idaho Mountain Express: Hailey LOT up for 3rd straight year

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Hailey LOT up for 3rd straight year

Restaurants and alcohol sales back to 2008 levels

By TONY EVANS
Express Staff Writer

Local-option tax revenues have increased in Hailey over the past three years, since dropping 17 percent during fiscal 2009.

Revenues from restaurant sales and alcoholic-beverage sales in 2012 climbed back to 2008 pre-recession levels.

“I’m pleased with the steady increase, and cautiously optimistic that things are turning around,” said Hailey Treasurer Becky Stokes.

The city levies a 3 percent local-option tax on lodging and rental cars, a 2 percent tax on alcoholic beverages and a 1 percent tax on restaurant food.

Since the tax was implemented in fall 2006, the LOT has brought in $2.4 million to support public transportation, police, street and park maintenance, and other city services.

The total LOT revenue increased 2.7 percent between fiscal 2011 and fiscal 2012, from $324,500 to $337,000.

The increase of revenue from 56 businesses that offer restaurant food and/or alcohol sales increased from $158,000 in 2011 to $163,600 in 2012, surpassing the total back to 2008 levels, the year the recession started.

The LOT revenue from 10 businesses offering lodging and rental cars increased from $158,000 in 2011 to $171,000 in 2012, still down from a high in 2007 of $220,000.

“People are traveling again,” Stokes said. “And people who live here are eating and drinking a bit, too.”

During the past two years, Mayor Fritz Haemmerle has recommended using surplus LOT revenues for beautification projects, including holiday lighting and park improvements.

Tony Evans: tevans@mtexpress.com

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