Published: October 30, 2009 02:57 am      

LEGISLATURE: Lawmakers OK 4% occupancy tax

A hotel/motel occupancy tax was enacted Wednesday by the Orleans County Legislature.

On a 5 to 2 vote, the tax — first implemented in 2004 — sparked a last-minute debate after two residents approached the board at Wednesday’s meeting.

The 4 percent tax on motels, hotels, bed and breakfasts and lodges faces a vote every two years. The tax helps generate money for tourism in the county.

No one spoke at an Oct. 14 public hearing. The two residents said they didn’t learn of the public hearing until after it was over, or they would have come then.

“We’re very opposed to it,” said Michelle Raines of Lyndonville.

Raines said tourism in the county has slowed, with the state’s huge increase on non-residential fishing licenses. She said that because of the increase, people are only buying the one-week fishing license for $35 instead of spending $70 for the whole season. Raines said the 4 percent occupancy tax should be removed as an incentive to welcome more tourists.

Legislators Gary Kent and Lynne Johnson moved to table the proposal until the Legislature had a chance to discuss what was brought up by residents.

“In light of the comments being made, I know they weren’t made at the public hearing, but they were

comments that should be taken into consideration,” Kent said.

The other five legislators voted against tabling the resolution and approved implementing the tax. The new expiration date is Dec. 31, 2011.

In other board news:

• A resolution was approved stating the county’s opposition to the New York state fee for issuing new license plates. The fee will require more than 33,000 Orleans County registrants to pay $25 to exchange current plates for the new state-issued plates. It will cost an additional $20 for motorist to keep the same license plate number.

In the resolution, it states that it was only in 2001 that the last license plate exchange occurred at a cost of only $5.50 to exchange the plates.

A copy of this opposition will be sent to the governor and area state lawmakers.

Contact reporter Rikki Cason at 798-1400, ext. 8277.