Voluntary 1% fee not transparent

The subject of public comment [Monday, April 17] at the City Council meeting involved the controversy surrounding the Tourism Promotion Assessment (TPA), or recently renamed Whitefish Community Sustainability Fund (WCSF). Nancy Schuber, a concerned citizen backed by several supporters, once again made the case to end or revise the so-called voluntary 1% fee we are charged for food, drink, bed and vehicle rental. We are forced to opt out, not opt in, and since most people don't know about the fee it goes unnoticed to the tune of nearly $1 million dollars per year. We ask for the right to vote in or opt in, on the fee.

At the meeting, Brian Schott hailed the virtues and hard work being done to sustain our tourism. Who really thinks we need to spend money on that? Besides the issue is being taxed without consent with no oversight on how that money is spent. That's not fair, not transparent, not Whitefish.

Beth Sobba, Whitefish