(a) Reimbursement. As a special service charge, a sponsor and the organizer of a renaissance festival or the Anne Arundel County Fair shall reimburse the County for all costs incurred by the County for equipment usage and personnel in support of the special event or, the renaissance festival, or the Anne Arundel County fair, as specified in subsection (c).
(b) Cost estimate.
(1) Prior to issuing a permit, the County shall provide the sponsor with an estimate of costs the County expects to incur supporting the special event based on a publicly available standardized rate schedule for personnel and equipment.
(2) At least 30 days before the first day of a renaissance festival or the Anne Arundel County Fair, the County shall provide the organizer of the renaissance festival or the Anne Arundel County Fair with an estimate of costs the County expects to incur supporting the renaissance festival or the Anne Arundel County Fair based on a publicly available standardized rate schedule for personnel and equipment.
(c) Payment of special service charges.
(1) A sponsor shall pay special service charge as follows:
(i) Prior to the issuance of the permit under this title, at least 75% of the estimated costs to be incurred by the County in supporting the special event; and
(ii) Any remaining outstanding actual costs incurred by the County in supporting the special event within 30 days of the conclusion of the special event.
(2) The organizer of a renaissance festival or the Anne Arundel County Fair shall pay the special service charge as follows:
(i) At least 30 days before the first day of the renaissance festival or the Anne Arundel County Fair, at least 75% of the estimated costs to be incurred by the County in supporting the renaissance festival or the Anne Arundel County Fair; and
(ii) Any remaining outstanding actual costs incurred by the County in supporting the renaissance festival or the Anne Arundel County Fair within 30 days of the conclusion of the renaissance festival or the Anne Arundel County Fair.
(d) Refund of special service charges. Within 30 days of the conclusion of the special event, a renaissance festival, or the Anne Arundel County Fair, the County shall refund to the sponsor or the organizer of a renaissance festival or the Anne Arundel County Fair any special service charges paid to the County in excess of the actual costs incurred by the County in supporting the special event, a renaissance festival, or the Anne Arundel County Fair.
(e) Waiver of special service charges. The County may waive payment of all or a portion of the special service charges if the county determines that a waiver is in the best interest of the County, such as:
(1) an activity of an educational institution;
(2) an activity of a community association;
(3) an activity of a non profit organization;
(4) an activity which requires a license issued under Title 2;
(6) an activity requiring a County Department of Recreation and Parks permit for the same event.
(Bill No. 13-23)
Editor’s note – Section 3 of Bill No. 13-23 provides that the fees provided for in this section may not begin to be collected under January 1, 2024.