Introduced: March 30, 2020
Public Hearing: April 13, 2020
Status: Adopted
An Ordinance of the Township of Vernon, County of Sussex, State of New Jersey, Amending and Supplementing Chapter 509 of the Municipal Code of the Township of Vernon Entitled “Taxation” to Provide for an Annual Allocation of the Hotel and Motel Room and Transient Accommodation Occupancy Tax
Note: Strikeouts are deletions. Underlines are added material.
WHEREAS, The Township of Vernon ("Township") Township Council passed Ordinance No. 20-05 and Ordinance 20-07 to add Transient Accommodations to the existing Hotel and Motel Room Occupancy Tax; and
WHEREAS, the new Hotel and Motel Room and Transient Accommodation Occupancy Tax is anticipated to generate additional revenue for the Township; and
WHEREAS, the Township has been actively working to leverage its natural assets and continue to highlight the Township as a destination for recreation and tourism; and
WHEREAS, a determination has been made to annually dedicate a portion of the Hotel and Motel Room and Transient Accommodation Occupancy Tax to support the Township’s efforts to increase and promote recreation and tourism.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the by the Township Council of the Township of Vernon that Chapter 509 of the Municipal Code be amended and supplemented as follows:
SECTION 1.
§509. Dedication of Hotel and Motel Room and Transient Accommodation Occupancy Tax.
Effective _______, 20__, revenues from the Hotel and Motel Room and Transient Accommodation Occupancy Tax shall be allocated on an annual basis in the following manner:
- No less than 18% of Hotel and Motel and Transient Accommodation Occupancy Tax revenue collected in the preceding year will be dedicated to a trust fund for the replacement of the artificial playing surfaces at Maple Grange Park.
- No less than 6% of Hotel and Motel and Transient Accommodation Occupancy Tax revenue collected in the preceding year will be dedicated in the annual budget for creation and maintenance of public pathways for hiking, biking and horseback riding trails; creation of amenities such as public gardens, disc golf, amphitheater and bike pump track; and the preservation and maintenance of cultural sites.
- No less than 1% of Hotel and Motel and Transient Accommodation Occupancy Tax revenue collected in the preceding year will be dedicated to an Open Space and Farm Land Preservation Fund for the acquisition of property for the purpose of open space and farm land preservation and the costs associated therewith including the costs of appraisal, economic and environmental analyses or engineering, surveying, or other professional services.
SECTION 2. Each section of this ordinance is an independent section, and the holding of any section or part thereof to be unconstitutional, void or ineffective for any cause shall not be deemed to affect the validity of constitutionality of any other sections or parts thereof.
SECTION 3. Any ordinances or parts thereof in conflict with the provisions of this Ordinance are hereby repealed as to their inconsistencies only.
SECTION 4. This Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon final passage, approval, and publication by law.
Note: Strikeouts are deletions. Underlines are added material.
