City of Penticton hands over disputed hotel room tax funds

Kelowna Daily CourierPosted: Friday, August 8, 2014 6:02 pm
The Penticton Hospitality Association has received a cheque for $310,657 from the City of Penticton for unspent hotel room tax money. The cheque arrived by courier at the law offices of Pushor Mitchell in Kelowna late Thursday afternoon. Penticton Hospitality Association spokesman Tim Hodgkinson said the association’s legal fees, most of which must be paid by the city, are still being tabulated. Last week, it was announced that the association won a lengthy legal battle with the City of Penticton over the hotel room tax. A judge ruled the city was unable to prove its case against the Penticton Hospitality Association and must now pay the expenses for the winning side. The city claims its legal expenses to date have been around $42,000, although it’s believed other bills from the case are forthcoming. The Penticton Herald has filed a Freedom of Information request for all legal expenses, direct and indirect, related to this case. Hodgkinson had hoped to have a press conference earlier this week, but he postponed it until after the Penticton Peach Festival, which wraps up Sunday, in order to not distract from the festival.