New Jersey Senate Bill S2192

New Jersey 2022-2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/7/22
• Refer: 3/7/22
• Report Pass: 12/19/22
• Refer: 12/19/22

Caption

Establishes "County Tourism Incentive Grant Fund" within Department of Treasury to provide funding for grants to counties to support tourism advertising and promotion.

Impact

This legislation impacts New Jersey's funding mechanisms for tourism promotion by creating a dedicated funding source through the allocation of excess hotel and motel occupancy fee revenues. This shift ensures that counties receive direct financial support specifically aimed at advertising and promoting their tourism sectors. The requirement for counties to file applications and demonstrate their plans to utilize the funding effectively ties the grants to accountability, thus ensuring that the financial assistance directly correlates with tourism promotion activities.

Summary

Senate Bill S2192 establishes the 'County Tourism Incentive Grant Fund' within the New Jersey Department of the Treasury. The fund is designed to provide financial assistance to counties for promoting and advertising tourism. Under the provisions of the bill, excess revenues from State hotel and motel occupancy fees collected in the previous fiscal year are appropriated and distributed to this newly formed fund from which grants can be issued. The aim is to bolster tourism-related activities through targeted funding to counties, enhancing local economies and overall state tourism appeal.

Contention

Notable points of contention may arise around how the funds are allocated among counties and whether the grant process is equitable. Some legislators might argue about the criteria for determining a county's share of the grant funds, as it is based on a formula relating to occupancy fees collected. Additionally, there are stipulations requiring counties to use the grants specifically for tourism promotion rather than replacing existing funds, which could lead to scrutiny over budgetary practices at the county level. Overall, while proponents celebrate the funding's potential to increase tourism, opponents may raise concerns about the long-term effects of dependency on state-mandated funding processes.