A one-hour discussion on a resolution for a room tax increase ended with postponing a decision until next month by the Sturgeon Bay Common Council Tuesday night. Baileys Harbor Town Chair Dave Elliot, who started the countywide initiative through the Door County Tourism Zoning Commission that would increase the tax from 5.5 to 8 percent, answered questions and concerns by councilmembers. Room tax revenues would be split 70/30 between Destination Door County and the local municipality. The Door County Tourism Zoning Commission proposal needs 13 of their 19 Door County municipalities to resolve an ordinance to be drafted. Councilmember Kristin Reeths motioned to postpone a decision on the recommendation until more information could be received, including a study conducted by UW-Whitewater on the tax impact’s elasticity. The motion was seconded and unanimously passed by the council. The Sturgeon Bay Common Council will revisit the resolution at their next scheduled meeting on March 2.
In other business, the council passed a resolution delaying the payments for combination Class B Beer and Class B Liquor licenses. Instead of one lump sum fee, restaurants and bars will now be able to spread out the cost over three different payments in June, August, and October.
A second resolution approved Tuesday waived sidewalk café fees for 2021. Restaurants and even non-food-related businesses can submit plans to move some of their operations.
