HB316: A bad move For Montana

Dear Editor:

Tourism is the second-largest industry

in Montana – a true success story and one we can all be proud of.

Currently HB316 is being considered in our legislature, calling for

diverting a portion of revenue and/or future allocations from over

20 state accounts, including the 4 percent Lodging Facility Use

Tax.

As executive director of Glacier

Country Regional Tourism Commission (the officially recognized

tourism region for western Montana including Ravalli, Missoula,

Lake, Mineral, Sanders, Lincoln, Flathead and Glacier counties, the

Flathead Indian Reservation and the Blackfoot Nation), we have the

pleasure of working with individuals, businesses, organizations,

tribal partners and communities to promote our area as a travel

destination.

Our lodging industry already collects

and sends 3 percent of the 7 percent accommodations tax to the

General Fund. In FY10, it deposited $12,330,846 into the General

Fund. If more money were diverted to the General Fund, it would

hurt the programs and marketing outreach done by tourism agencies

(like Glacier Country and Montana Office of Tourism) that work to

bring visitors and new money into our economy.

Of the 10 million visitors that come to

our state every year, western Montana has the pleasure of hosting

approximately one-third of those visitors either on their way to or

from Glacier National Park. We also directly receive the same share

of the $2.3 billion in non-resident expenditures paid by those

visitors or approximately $750 million.

They did not come on their own. They

were reached out to through organizations and programs supported by

the 4 percent Lodging Facility Use Tax. To see any of that taken

away or manipulated would be a travesty.

This bill would also have a disastrous

impact on our cities, health insurance programs, education,

heritage preservation and environmental programs as it is directly

impacting funding for them as well.

Please contact your local legislative

representatives and help protect this vital part of our

economy.

Racene Friede

Missoula