The City of West Columbia is holding two information sessions on a possible Hospitality fee. The public is invited to attend the meetings to discuss this program.

When and Where:June 8 at 6 p.m. and June 13, 6 p.m. at City Hall, 200 N. 12th Street

What is a Hospitality Fee?

A hospitality fee is a 2% fee on prepared meals and beverages sold in restaurants, convenient stores and delicatessens. It is NOT a fee on groceries.
How is it collected?
When the customer pays for the meal, food or beverage, the business owner collects the fee and forwards it to the City on a monthly basis.
Practical Implications
For a $10.00 meal, there will be an additional charge of twenty cents on your patron’s bill.
Neighboring municipalities, such as Cayce, Town of Lexington and Columbia, already charge a hospitality fee. If you dine in these locations, then you are already paying these fees.

How can the funds be used?
It is anticipated that the hospitality fee could generate approximately $1 million annually for the City. These funds come from daily visitors who use the City’s roads, parks and services and not just from West Columbia citizens.
Funds must be used for tourism-related activities and improvements, such as parks and Riverwalk improvements, parking improvements, pedestrian and bicycle pathways, street beautification, and festivals and events. The addition of these funds allows the City to use general fund revenues for other services and programs such as law enforcement and fire services, new business occupancy grants, façade improvement grants and a blight removal program.