By Rhys Baker

Clay County Commissioners have decided to raise the transient guest tax in Clay County to four percent. The transient guest tax, more commonly known as the bed tax, is a tax in addition to sales tax on the rental of rooms, lodging, or other sleeping accommodations. The tax applies when more than two bedrooms are furnished for guests’ accommodations for 28 consecutive days or less. Although the Clay County Commissioners chose how those tax dollars are spent, the money has routinely been spent on promoting Clay County. Grow Clay County Director Natale Muruato explains, “Right now, we don’t get enough dollars to do it justice, to really get the word out, especially with all the great things that are going on here, you know, with the murals and the zoo and just the quality of life and just all the great things that are happening, it’s tough to do it on a shoestring budget. And the more money that we have, the better we can promote it. And it’s paid by outside dollars, you know, coming in here for the most part.”

Clay County and Grow Clay County currently have a contract for funding travel and tourism. However, not all funds go to Grow Clay County, as the commissioners have occasionally given money to bring in concerts or additional entertainment to events. Muruato explains how the bed tax funds are used in her office, “They give us $8,000 to manage the overall marketing. So part of that is we developed a new website. We developed a marketing plan. We manage and update the website. We also post on social media for Explore. We go to the travel and tourism committee meetings that are represented by our area and also with the state to make sure we have a presence and a seat at the table so people know we’re here.”

Clay County’s bed tax has been set at the state-regulated minimum of 2 percent since January 1998. The City of Clay Center does not impose a bed tax.