Sen. Deanna Ballard of Blowing Rock discusses the value of local tourism in Raleigh on Wednesday. Photo credit: Ben Brown
For Sen. Deanna Ballard of Blowing Rock, and according to a brand new study on tourism impacts, 度假小镇是北卡罗来纳州经济的一股强大力量，为该州带来了巨大的收入回报. "They provide tremendous comfort, recreational activities, Southern hospitality and unprecedented beauty that you will not find anywhere else," Senator Ballard told a gathering of League-affiliate group N.C. Resort Towns and Convention Cities (RTCC) on Wednesday in Raleigh. That allure added up last year to $22.9 billion 在北卡罗莱纳州的游客消费中，巧合的是，这与大会为该州的新预算提议的金额相同. But while these small-population destination towns are paying big dividends, they also face unique budgetary and resource challenges locally in support of that visitorship.
摘自2015年的州和县级数据(可获得完整数据的最近年份), a new study from Carolina Demography, part of the UNC Chapel Hill Carolina Population Center, reports that travelers and tourists to North Carolina contributed $1.7 billion in state and local tax revenues for the year and directly supported 211,000 jobs generating $5.2 billion in wages -- numbers that may have increased in 2016. Officials from across the state -- Blowing Rock to Nags Head -- heard the figures on Wednesday in a presentation from report author Rebecca Tippet, director of Carolina Demography.
But the desirable numbers don't tell the whole story, Tippett noted. "It's really easy to focus on the income and the revenue generated by tourism, 但是，所有这些在县和州一级很容易获得的好处，通常都是在地方一级产生成本之后," she explained. 从山区到沿海的目的地市政当局必须为季节性人口激增所需的服务腾出大量空间，并投入大量资金. 这项研究引用了橡树岛助理城镇经理丽莎·斯蒂斯的话说:“我们全年的人口不到8人,000, but we have to build sewer (capacity) to cover motels, large rental homes, and second homes/vacation homes at full capacity" during the week of July 4. The town's residential water usage, for example, 这个数字是这一时期的三倍，必须有足够的基础设施来满足，远远超过常住人口的需要. That's not an isolated example, nor is it the biggest. The high months are also sensitive for service delivery and public safety response, as calls can easily double. "All of these require personnel to be able to meet those needs," said Tippett, whose full study will be made available soon. Senator Ballard, in her separate remarks, underscored the importance of support for these communities. "It's healthy for us here in Raleigh to continue to support you for years to come," she said.
这些挑战并没有动摇城市和城镇的奉献精神，他们必须提供最好的服务和能力，以促进就业和生活质量，促进区域和全州经济, 正如RTCC成员在周三访问联合国大会期间向他们的立法者传达的那样. One proposal currently under consideration at the General Assembly, HB 900 Safe Infrastructure and Low Property Tax Act from Reps. Stephen Ross and Jason Saine, would offer municipalities great help on resources. 它将为城镇提供额外的选择，为关键的基础设施和经济发展投资筹集收入. 该法案将允许市政当局寻求选民对三种新收入来源之一的批准:仅限市政征收25美分的销售税, a prepared meals tax, or an occupancy tax. If voters consented, any proceeds must be spent on local infrastructure projects or economic development. The Pilot newspaper of Southern Pines this week published an article that explains the need for the bill.
