The Ravalli County Tourism Business Improvement District (TIBD) is shutting down, according to board member and County Commissioner Dan Huls. The district was established in 2011 and established a $1 per room “bed tax” on rooms for rent in the district with the funds used to increase room occupancy through effective marketing of the Bitterroot valley’s lodging facilities aimed at promoting the valley as a premier travel destination.
This year, according to Huls, the board sent out the traditional inquiry/ballot seeking continued support but simply didn’t get enough support to continue the program.
“As of June 3, there is no longer a room tax in Ravalli County,” said Huls. He said the process for closing down the district, which was organized as a non-profit organization, will take some time. There will first be an audit to confirm that everything is alright on the financial end. Then a plan for dissolution must be designed and approved by the state. Huls said it would probably not be finished until the end of the year due to the number of hoops that have to be jumped through. In the meantime, no more money will be collected.
Toni Coursey, Chair of the TBID, refused to comment on the closure.
O says
There’s a tourism committee for ravalli county? There’s nothing unless you go to Missoula. Even Kmart has empty shelves. I can’t think of any reason for anyone to occupy ravalli county