The tax saves every household approximately $1,331 in city taxes annually, along with offering a wide array of programs, maintenance and more.
Flagstaff voters will have an opportunity to preserve the bed, board and beverage tax on their November ballot, allowing the city to continue investing in parks, beautification, arts, sciences, festivals, economic development and other initiatives.
Proposition 487 on the ballot will ask voters whether to continue collecting the 2% BBB tax through June 2043. Without a renewal, the tax will expire in 2028. The tax is paid by people who stay in hotels, motels, short-term rentals and campgrounds, as well as those who frequent restaurants and bars.
In 1988, the voters first passed the BBB tax for 10 years, through May 31, 1998. In 1996, the voters approved an extension of the tax for 15 years, through May 31, 2013. In 2010, the voters approved another extension for 15 years, to the current expiration date of May 31, 2028.
The current request, Proposition 487, is to extend it for 15 years and one month to June 30, 2043. City code directs how the money is spent. Neither the tax rate nor where the money goes would change under this year’s proposition.
The largest chunk of BBB collections, 33%, funds parks and recreation in our city. Another 20% goes to beautification. City code requires 7.5% of the money to fund arts and sciences. The city uses 9.5% of the collections to promote economic development in Flagstaff with things like business grants. And the remaining 30% is used to promote responsible visitation to our area.
This last item is important because visitors pay the vast majority of the BBB tax, 68%, according to the Northern Arizona University Economic Policy Institute. In addition, approximately 8,000 people work in tourism-related jobs in Flagstaff.
The tax saves every household approximately $1,331 in city taxes annually, along with offering a wide array of programs, maintenance and more.
A partial list of things funded with BBB money includes:
- Development and maintenance of 60 miles of the Flagstaff Urban Trails System.
- Turf maintenance and other improvements for five Flagstaff Unified School District fields and seven city fields for youth and adult sports, as well as pickleball, tennis and disc golf facilities.
- Playground equipment replacements and upgrades, including those at Foxglenn, Thorpe and Bushmaster parks.
- Support for maintenance of recreation centers, including Jay Lively Activity Center, Joe C. Montoya Community and Senior Center and Flagstaff Aquaplex.
- Events like Winter Wonderland, Fourth of July, New Year’s Eve Pinecone Drop, Movies on the Square, First Friday Art Walk, Art X and more.
- Daily operation of the Flagstaff Visitor Center and Train Station.
- Holiday lights program for downtown Flagstaff, Fourth Street and more.
- More than 40 grants to community members for beautification and arts projects like murals, utility cabinet art wraps and pollinator gardens that help to showcase local artists.
- Enhancing and maintaining streetscapes with public art, traffic signal cabinet art wraps, monument signs, the flower program, landscaping, and bike and pedestrian amenities.
- Public art and garden landscaping.
- Incentives to aid local businesses with workforce and development.
- Incubation and acceleration opportunities for entrepreneurs.
- Funding support for sustainable business practices like the Green Business Boot Camp, Innovate Waste Challenge, and more.
- Grants awarded to our local arts and sciences and cultural non-profits for both operating costs and special projects.
- Public art including temporary exhibitions and opportunities for local artists to create and showcase their craft.
The BBB renewal ballot measure will be on the upcoming ballot, Nov. 5. For further information, please go to bbbrenewalflagstaff.com. FBN
By Ryan Randazzo
Ryan Randazzo is the marketing and media relations project manager for Discover Flagstaff, the city’s destination marketing organization.