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June 24, 2008

Assembly passes Clinton County bed-tax bill

<a href="mailto:jlotemplio@pressrepublican.com">By JOE LOTEMPLIO</a>

PLATTSBURGH — The State Assembly approved the Clinton County occupancy tax late Monday night, clearing the way for a local law to be enacted.

Earlier in the legislative session, the Senate had approved the plan, which calls for a 3-percent tax on area motel and hotel rooms.

The bill must now be signed by Gov. David Paterson.

“After that, we can begin the process of preparing a local law,” County Administrator Michael Zurlo said Tuesday.

“Hopefully, it will be in place by the fall for the final quarter of the year.”



BOOSTING TOURISM

The occupancy tax was recommended by a local committee of government officials and businesspeople as a way to help fund and promote tourism in the area.

In the past eight years, the county has benefitted from numerous fishing tournaments that have discovered Lake Champlain as a great fishery.

Funds from the bed tax will help promote fishing tournaments and other tourist-related events.

“We in the North Country know that we can’t rely on just one industry,” Legislature Chairman Jimmy Langley (R-Area 7, Peru) said. “We have to pick from several pots, and tourism is one of them.”



HELPS PROPERTY TAXES

Assemblywoman Janet Duprey (R-Peru) said the occupancy tax, also known as a bed tax, will help in other ways besides boosting tourism.

“Nobody likes new taxes, but more than 50 other counties in the state have this, and I don’t think 3 percent on a room is going to make anybody blink,” Duprey said.

“This helps the residents of Clinton County and helps keep property taxes down.”



RISK ‘WORTH IT’

Terry Meron, owner of the Comfort Inn in Plattsburgh and a member of the committee that recommended the bed tax, said there is some risk because the measure adds cost to rooms and the local hotel market is price sensitive.

But he thinks it is worth it, especially if the money is used for marketing the area’s attractions, such as Lake Champlain and its military history.

“It’s an investment to try to bring more business to the county.”

That’s what lures tourists and encourages them to stay longer, Meron said, adding that their spending creates retail jobs and benefits people throughout the county.

Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber of Commerce President Garry Douglas said the tax will help the county set up specific marketing plans.

“This couldn’t come at a more important time. We have great opportunities at our doorstep for greater visitation but lack the resources to maximize those opportunities through aggressive marketing.”

Douglas said the tax will help bring more Canadians to the area.

“This will allow us to really step up our marketing to Canadians, who are ripe to come and spend here, thanks to the exchange rate, but who need to hear from us through targeted outreach.”

Zurlo said the county must hold a public hearing this summer before voting to enact the occupancy tax.



— Staff Writer Dan Heath contributed to this report.

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