MYRTLE BEACH-Signs that Grand Strand's economy is improving can be seen in how much new sales tax money the city of Myrtle Beach is collecting.
The city's penny sales tax hike for tourism has raised more money than Myrtle Beach expected since it was implemented August 1.
"We've raised over $14 million in the present time and we still have two months to go June and July being two of our biggest months of the year,” city mayor, John Rhodes, “So we think that we should be somewhere around $17 million when it's over."
One of the main reasons there are so many millions of dollars pouring into Myrtle Beach is because there's plenty of tourists in town. It’s something local cab companies said they can attest to.
"This year it turned around instantly I mean golf season was outstanding, the tourist season has been a lot better than it has been in the previous two years it's obviously working and working well," said Charles Moore of Independent Cab Association.
Moore said the sales tax may have raised controversy among some who disagreed with having one in the first place but for him as a business owner it meant good news.
“Last year I mean I was getting as low as $8 turned in $12 turned in I mean this year that's been way up off those numbers,” he said “I mean you've gotta be able to make a living and it just got to a point where I thought that this industry wasn't going to make it."
Rhodes said the money won’t only go toward the city’s tourism related marketing and promotion but also toward tourist related capital improvements and services that benefit the community.
"It could be more sports related complexes or it could be something else down near the boardwalk that would be an enhancement," he said.
"Being able to pay your bills you know is a pride thing and when you get out and work and you can't pay your bills and no matter how hard you work, that's very frustrating,” said Moore, “But this made a big difference in a lot of people's lives in this area."
The money generated from the tourism tax will also give city homeowners a 90 percent tax credit this fall, Rhodes said.
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