Join the team that helps make our city such a great place to live and visit. Every year, citizens and visitors alike get the opportunity to celebrate events that are special and unique within our community. These events allow the citizens a distraction from the usual and encourages visitors from many different places that help add to the diversity, interest, and livelihood of our town. The Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) is the team that recommends a funding boost from tax revenue to those organizations. 98221 Studio Tour, Shipwreck Day, Anacortes Farmers Market are some of the events that receive funding from the Lodging Tax.
The LTAC meets annually to review the applications, typically October through November. They make their recommendations to the City Council in December for the following year’s events. This is a fun and exciting way to be an integral part of the community and promote all that Anacortes has to offer.
In addition, every 5 years, the Committee works on the Lodging Tax Strategic Plan. The Plan helps the City focus on how to best leverage the lodging tax and guide the Lodging Tax Committee. The Plan is ready for an update and that will be part of the work the Committee will complete this year.
The basic requirements are:
State law requires the City to establish a Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (“LTAC”). The Committee membership must be appointed by the City Council and must include:
- at least two members who are representatives of businesses required to collect the tax;
- at least two members who are persons involved in activities authorized to be funded by revenue received from the tax;
- a City elected official, who must serve as chair of the committee.
The City LTAC includes 3 members from each category and one elected official. The membership is one year and may be renewed.
The Committee meets weekly for one hour between October and November to review the applications and interview applicants. The meetings begin at 4 p.m. on Thursdays although those times and day may change depending on availability. The work on the Strategic Plan will encompass a bit more time for review and drafting; work on that is expected to begin in June 2022.
If you are interested in joining a dynamic group to keep Anacortes alive and thriving, join the LTAC group! Applications are now being accepted to begin the work for 2023 events.
Please contact Joann Stewart at 360-503-9041 or joanns@cityofanacortes.org if you have questions.
Talent Bank application can be accessed at: https://forms.cityofanacortes.org/Forms/TalentBank