City HallWednesday, November 11
Myrtle Beach wants a bigger share of the tourism fee, but state lawmakers have to approve it
The 5AM Socastee team
If you own a home in Myrtle Beach, this one touches your property tax credit. City council on Tuesday approved an agreement to seek a new split of the Tourism Development Fee, a 1% sales tax on purchases inside city limits. Nothing changes yet: the 80/20 split is written into state law, so lawmakers have to act.
The city's share of the tourism fee would double under the plan
| Current law | Measure | Proposal |
|---|---|---|
| 80% | Collaborative share | 60% |
| 20% | City share | 40% |
Sources: Myrtle Beach News, WPDE, WMBF
The city's share would be divided evenly between property tax credits for permanent residents and tourism-related capital projects, city spokesperson Meredith Denari said. Those projects would improve existing attractions and add new ones meant to lengthen stays. The plan now heads to Horry County's legislative delegation.
- City's share: about $9 million now, about $18 million at 40%
- Homeowner credit: cut from 67.45% to 53.4% in FY 2026-27
- Current fee term: runs through 2029
$45.5 millioncollected by the Tourism Development Fee in 2025
That's what the 1% sales tax on purchases inside Myrtle Beach city limits brought in last year.
Sources: Myrtle Beach News, Post and Courier
Sources: Myrtle Beach News, WPDE, WMBF, Post and Courier