A. A local governmental entity may impose by ordinance a fee on the use of a room within a lodging facility within the local governmental entity. The fee may be referred to as the "convention center fee". The amount of the convention center fee shall not exceed two dollars fifty cents ($2.50) per room for each day the room is occupied by a vendee.

B. A convention center fee imposed pursuant to this section shall be reviewed by the governing body of the local governmental entity annually. The local governmental entity shall adjust the amount of the convention center fee by ordinance to result in an amount of revenue equivalent to the following percentage of the actual operating and maintenance costs for the preceding fiscal year of the convention center to which the revenue from the fee is dedicated pursuant to Subsection E of this section:

(1) through fiscal year 2025, one hundred twenty percent;

(2) for fiscal year 2026, one hundred percent; and

(3) for fiscal year 2027 and subsequent fiscal years, a percentage that is two percent less than the prior fiscal year.

C. If convention center fees imposed are subject to the provisions of a joint powers agreement between two local governmental entities, the local governmental entities that are parties to the joint powers agreement shall jointly determine changes in the rate of convention center fees to be imposed.

D. A qualified municipality shall not decrease the convention center fee while revenue bonds to which the revenue of the convention center fees is pledged remain outstanding.

E. A local governmental entity shall dedicate the revenue from the convention center fee as provided in this subsection at the time that the ordinance imposing the fee is enacted. A local governmental entity that is a party to a joint powers agreement regarding the imposition of a convention center fee shall enact an ordinance that includes the provisions stated in the joint powers agreement and limit the use of the revenue to the following:

(1) costs of acquisition of land for and the design, construction, equipping, furnishing, landscaping, operation and maintenance of a convention center located within the qualified municipality;

(2) payments of principal, interest or prior redemption premiums due in connection with and any other charges pertaining to revenue bonds authorized by the Convention Center Financing Act; and

(3) costs of collecting and otherwise administering the convention center fee; provided that administration costs shall not be paid until all required payments on the revenue bonds issued pursuant to the Convention Center Financing Act are made and that no more than five percent of the revenue collected in any fiscal year shall be used to pay administration costs.

History: Laws 2003, ch. 87, § 4.