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An explanation on the  City of Myrtle Beach's decision to replace the county's Hospitality Fee

The Hospitality Fee has been in the news lately, so a recap of the facts might help. Here are a few highlights to show how the City of Myrtle Beach arrived at the decision to replace the county’s Hospitality Fee.

• The city’s agreement to allow Horry County to collect the Hospitality Fee inside the city limits has expired. It was for a defined period, and that clock has run.
• The county cannot collect the fee in the cities without their permission. Myrtle Beach has ...not extended that permission.
• The October 1996 resolution allowing the county to collect the hospitality fee in the city specifically says that the 1.5 percent fee is for up to 20 years. (See the attached image.) That 20-year period began January 1, 1997 and ended January 1, 2017.
• Not only has the original period of the fee expired, but the purpose of the original fee – the RIDE I list of projects – has been accomplished.
• The city’s goal is to keep the money generated inside city limits in our jurisdiction for the benefit of city residents and businesses.
• The city’s action does not prevent Horry County from collecting its Hospitality Fee in the unincorporated areas of the county.
• In all, five cities – Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Conway, Surfside Beach and Aynor – have acted to replace the county’s hospitality fee in their jurisdictions.
• The City of Myrtle Beach supports I-73.