Occupancy Tax Intent Under Fire

North Carolina’s House is pushing a new bill to rein in how counties spend hotel and vacation rental tax money—aiming to lock it strictly to tourism promotion, not general public services. The push comes after Currituck County used those funds for police and fire, which the hotel industry challenged—and the state Supreme Court sided with Currituck, saying public safety helps attract tourists. But Rep. Julia Howard argues the tax was always meant for direct tourism boosts, not everyday county expenses. Her bill would require legislative approval for any non-tourism spending, while preserving existing exemptions. It passed the House Finance Committee with strong support, including from Rep. Deb Butler, as lawmakers seek to honor the tax’s original intent and protect the hospitality industry from unintended burdens. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/be93d51578701c9f