This news was passed along this morning by Delegate Dan Riley:
“Hotel tax, for Harford County, killed in the Senate.
It is with great disappointment I’ve learned the hotel tax for Aberdeen was killed in the Senate.
The bill was doing well until someone offered an amendment. The amendment was accepted and became part of the bill thus killing Aberdeen’s chances of getting the hotel tax this year. I do not know what Senator was behind the amendment, I can only guess…maybe a friend of Hess?
I will bring the bill back next year, and the next year, and the next year…until it passes or the opposition, in the Senate, to the bill is retired by the voters.”
The amended language now only includes Somerset and Montgomery Counties. Because the House of Delegates’ version of the bill is different, the legislation must go to conference to iron out the differences.
Also, the amendment apparently reads that, “The municipal Corporation is located within a county that:
1. DISTRIBUTES AT LEAST 50% OF TOTAL HOTEL TAX REVENUES TO PROMOTE TOURISM WITHIN THE COUNTY; OR
2. DOES NOT IMPOSE A TAX ON A TRANSIENT CHARGE PAID TO A HOTEL.”
The rub seems to be that, since Harford County does not have a hotel tax, this amendment, killed the bill in the senate.
For more Dagger coverage of the Hotel Tax Wars, please read:
– Harford Hoteliers Be Forewarned, Taxing Times Ahead: The Statewide Push To Tax Rooms In Aberdeen
– Room fees, Parking charges, Taxing Districts : Solving Problems in Aberdeen
Or listen to Aberdeen City Councilmen Mike Hiob and Ron Kupferman discuss the need for such a room tax when they appeared on WAMD 970 AM on Dec. 18:
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Typical Harford County politics!
First and foremost….Thanks to B. Dan Riley for once again fighting the good fight for all the right reasons. He has become a Delegate that we can count on to do the right thing for reasons that he truly believes in. ( Dan does NOT kow tow to campaign contributors! ) An actual “honest politician”! And Dan, thanks in advance for your “pledged” efforts next year and so on. As Buzz Lightyear says “To Infinity and Beyond” !
Also Dan, when you find out, please forward the name(s) of the “less than honorable” Senator(s) that extinguished our hopes for this honorable cause this year. I would like everyone to know who they are and what their motives are. When “We the People” find out, OUR motives should be to rid the Senate Chamber of these hypocrites! ( strong word, but very applicable! )
Second… Citizens of Aberdeen should know that the potential revenue generated from this proposed 2% Room Tax could offset the average loss from Ripken Stadium, thereby enabling the City to lower its property tax rate by 5 cents per $100 assessed value. ( and that’s with the current number of rooms and occupancy rates! ) Proof that this is worth fighting for AGAIN! Speaking of that….
Third…. Although today’s news is disappointing, the beginning of the next legislative session is only 9 months away! We got closer this year than last year, and next year just may be the charm!
“Less than honorable” Senator(s)” are strong words coming from a small town politician.
Buzz Lighyear
Good one! I loved ‘Toy Story,” saw it three times. Unfortunately, we are living in a real world with real people and real problems, all that require real solutions.
“Dorothy, we aren’t in Kansas anymore.” Loved that one too! Perhaps we should tap our shoes together three times and wish. Guess that would solve everything.
While I do share in Resident’s gift for the glib turn of phrase, I think you’re missing Mike’s point. This was a revenue source that would relieve some of your burden. A user tax. A pass through tax. That IS the real world. It IS a real solution. It IS something that is done in every other jurisdiction in the state.
I understand that, to some, even the mention of “tax” is like questioning someone’s parentage. But this was an example of a good tax. A necessary tax. And an appropriate tax.
Thanks Dan! Keep fighting the good fight.
PS- Ever wonder how Ocean City keeps the dog poop out of the sand castles and the puke off the sidewalks? Try a 10.5% HOTEL TAX.