Commissioners vote on transient room tax increase to support tourism in Kanab

The Kane County Commission convened on May 27, 2025, to discuss several key agenda items, with a primary focus on the proposed increase of the transient room tax (TRT) as authorized by House Bill 456.

The meeting began with a review of the TRT increase, which would raise the tax from 4.25% to 4.5%. A suggestion was made to redline the ordinance changes for clarity before sending it to the appropriate company for online updates. This practice is standard when amending ordinances, although it was noted that the commission members were already familiar with the proposed changes.

Commissioner Cabea emphasized the necessity of the additional revenue generated by the tax increase, citing the previous year's TRT budget, which totaled approximately $5.1 million. Of this amount, around 47% was allocated for tourism establishment and promotion, as mandated by state law. This funding is crucial for attracting visitors to the area, with a significant portion directed to Kanab City and local businesses.

The remaining funds were primarily used for mitigation efforts, including $1.5 million for county roads and nearly half a million for emergency medical services. However, the commissioners expressed concern that these allocations left insufficient resources for other essential services, such as restroom facilities, trash removal, signage, and trail maintenance.

The discussion underscored the pressing need for increased funding to support both tourism and community infrastructure. The commission is expected to vote on the TRT increase in the near future, with the outcome likely to have significant implications for local revenue and services.