Business owners express concerns about the loss of the Lake of the Ozarks lodging tax

LAKE OZARK, Mo. (KY3) - The Lake of the Ozarks area is heading into the busy summer season without money from a lodging tax.

“This year it’s been, I’d say, a touch slower,” said Jason Van Houten.

He owns a few businesses near the Bagnell Dam at Lake Ozark.

“You know, people who own their second or third home down here, they bring their friends with them. Then their friends got to stop in. We’re fortunate in that. We have grandparents whose grandparents brought them here. We’re just kind of that stop,” he said.

Van Houten says he’s not too worried about the region losing its draw despite a lack of funding for promotion.

“The lake has made a name for itself at this point. There are television shows about it. We kind of get a lot of advertising without advertising,” he said.

Last year, the state Supreme Court deemed the area’s lodging tax unconstitutional. It was established over 30 years ago and was meant to help the Lake of the Ozarks market itself as a tourist destination. At issue, according to the justices, was how the money was collected and spent. Each county, Miller, Camden, and Morgan, had a board that would collect the funds from hotels and motels, then distribute them according to state statute. Without the funds, some business owners, like Merlyn Vandevort, say they’re concerned it will hurt business.

“It’s devastating to the lake, to the tourism industry,” he said.

The former Tri-County Lodging Association board member says the money generated by the lodging tax was more than $2 million each year.

“One of the things the lodging tax paid for that people didn’t realize, the fireworks displays on the lake. Well, right now there are no fireworks displays planned for the 4th of July weekend. There might be some smaller private fireworks displays. Some of the lodging might still put on a somewhat of a fireworks display. This was just one of many, many things being supported by the lodging tax,” explained Vandevort.

The tax also went towards bringing large events and tournaments to the area, generating even more money spent by travelers.

“It’s not good for the economy. It’s not good for the community. It’s a tragedy that we didn’t do a better job of promoting and explaining how important it was,” said Vandevort.

Van Houten says he’s confident that the future for the lake counties will continue to thrive.

“I think that we can step up as a community and still make things happen that will make people have a good time and make them come,” he said.

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