Byrdstown Officials expecting an increase in local vacation activity and rental bookings this season as high gas prices encourage people to stay closer to home.
Mayor Sam Gibson said the community is fortunate to have the lake as a primary resource for visitors from nearby areas like Cookeville and Livingston. Gibson said he anticipates people will travel less this year to destination spots out-of-state.
“We’re a tourist community,” Gibson said. “And we reap the benefits of Dale Hollow Lake. And so that’s going to mean that if there’s more people here spending their money or if there’s more people that’s short distance from here comes here and spends their money, then the people here are going to do a little bit better.”
As gas and diesel prices reach record highs, Gibson said he expects and a slight uptick in visitors, leading to a significant boost in tax revenue. Gibson said he the lake will likely see increased travel numbers similar to what they saw during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gibson said the money local businesses gain during the summer months helps them get by during the offseason. Gibson said the current season appears to be starting off better than the previous two years, which saw a slight decline in activity.
“Our businesses here have to rely on your tourist season in order to survive and to operate,” Gibson said. “They try to get by through the winter and hope that they have a enough increase in revenue throughout the tourist season in order to carry them on through the winter and year as it goes on. So yeah, that means a lot. That means where they get their money in the way of living from this tourist season.”
Gibson said the status of federal facilities like the Sunset campground significantly impacts the local economy because campers frequent downtown restaurants and grocery stores. Gibson said sales tax serves as the primary funding source for the city general fund and provides critical support for local schools.
“Whatever comes into the city sales tax, half of it goes to the city and half of it goes to the school,” Gibson said. “Whatever comes into the county in sales tax, half of it goes to the county and half of it goes to the school. So it’s a big benefit also to the school whenever things are going well as well as it is for the county and the city.”
Gibson said even a modest 10 percent increase in sales tax revenue, representing roughly $20,000 to $30,000, makes a significant difference for a municipality with a small budget. Gibson said new housing developments and an RV park currently under construction will further tie the local economy to tourism in the coming years.
“The term we use is get people’s heads in beds in Pickett County,” Gibson said. “And that way if they do that, they’re going to spend enough time here that they’re hopefully going to spend a little bit more money then. And so that’s what we’re always hoping for is for them to spend a day or two in Pickett County.”
Gibson said the long-term goal is to convert visiting tourists into permanent residents who eventually purchase retirement or vacation homes in the area.
Jackson County has one of the lowest tax rates in the state with an effective property tax rate of 0.64 percent.