NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
LURAY TOWN COUNCIL
PROPOSED ENACTMENT AND LEVY OF ADMISSIONS TAX
NOTICE is hereby given pursuant to § 58.1-3007 of the Code of Virginia, as amended, that the Luray Town Council shall hold a public hearing on April 14, 2025, at 7 p.m. The public hearing shall be conducted in the Luray Town Council Chambers located at 45 East Main Street in the Town of Luray, Virginia.
Public comment may also be submitted until 12:00 P.M. on April 14, 2025 through any of the following means: Email:bchrisman@townofluray.com; Mail: Luray Town Manager, Post Office Box 629, Luray, Virginia, 22835; Hand delivery: Place in the exterior DROP BOX in the alcove located at the front of the Town’s offices facing Main Street; or Phone: (540) 743-5511. All comments must include the commentor’s name and address to be read aloud at the hearing. This hearing will be live streamed on the Town’s social media and website pages. All normal Rules of Procedure will be followed.
The purpose of the public hearing is to receive public comments concerning the following:
Town Council is considering levying an admissions tax of 1.5 percent upon the charge collected for admission to any event, attraction, business, exhibition, or performance within the Town, including, but not limited to, concerts, theaters, zoos, parks, sports events, and natural attractions. The admissions tax would be collected at the time an admission charge is paid and then remitted to the Town with a report on monthly basis. School events and events conducted by tax-exempt entities for charitable purposes would be exempt from the tax. The admissions tax would become effective on July 1, 2025.
Copies of the ordinance implementing the admissions tax are available at the Town of Luray’s Offices at 45 East Main Street in Luray, Virginia, and may be viewed between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. from Monday through Friday. Questions may be directed to the Town by calling (540) 743-5511 or by emailing bchrisman@townofluray.com.
Why don’t you just charge a fee to those holding the event, or the hosting venue, rather than every person who goes. The fee would be paid after the event and be 1% or 1.5% of admission price multiplied by the number of paid admissions. This is vastly simpler. Sometimes kids go free or discounted to events and seniors get discounts and ticket prices can vary as well depending on seating, etc.
Perhaps we should all just decide to stay home and support nothing that goes on anymore! We certainly pay enough taxes anyway! I would support school events for the kids but nothing else! It is important to support our youth.
It’s amazing…people want modern, functioning infrastructure – sewer,water,etc but they don’t want to pay for it. But when the 100+ year old features fail, they’re the first to blame the town. This modest tax isn’t going to break anyone.