Drumheller town Council will be discussing the future of Schedule B of the business license bylaw.
This comes after passed first reading of a bylaw to removed Schedule B from the Bylaw. This is the mechanism created to provide stable funding for marketing the valley.
In late 2015, Travel Drumheller made a presentation to council requesting changes to Schedule B. During the regular council meeting of January 11, two options to amend Schedule B of the business license bylaw were presented for discussion.
Schedule B regulates the business license fees applicable to the accommodations sector of Drumheller, such as hotels, motels, and bed and breakfast establishments. Its purpose is to provide a stable funding mechanism for Travel Drumheller by shifting the cost of marketing the valley from taxpayers to businesses, which profit directly from tourism.
The first option presented to council for consideration, as proposed by Travel Drumheller, was an amendment to simplify the formula used to calculate business license fees to a flat rate of 2% of sales.
A second option presented for consideration was an amendment to remove Schedule B from the bylaw, thus making contributions to Travel Drumheller a voluntary system.
Subsequent to the discussion, Council gave first reading of Bylaw 04.16 for the purpose of removing Schedule B from the Business License Bylaw.
First reading passed unanimously. All bylaws require three readings before they are adopted.
Further discussion around Schedule B of the Business License Bylaw will be held during the next Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday, January 18 in council chambers.
