Routt County prepares resolution to clarify lodging tax; board says it will not change short-term rental ban

Routt County staff said Monday they had drafted a resolution intended to clarify the scope and intent of the county lodgers tax after public confusion about whether the tax would authorize short-term rentals in the county.

Linnea (staff member) described the draft resolution as a factual, board‑endorsed statement explaining the tax and its permitted uses. She told commissioners she had circulated a draft and that Commissioner Macy had suggested small edits. "I did submit a draft," Linnea said during the discussion.

Commissioners said they supported a concise resolution to make clear what the tax funds and to dispel misinformation. One commissioner asked the staff to highlight in the text that the lodging‑tax measure does not change the county’s existing prohibition on short‑term rentals; another commissioner recommended bolding language for emphasis.

Action plan: Commissioners agreed to place the resolution on the consent agenda for the next regular meeting so that it could be ratified and disseminated quickly. County staff said the resolution would be signed by the full board and distributed as any other adopted resolution.

Why it matters: County officials said some residents — including people with high familiarity with county business — had contacted them with incorrect assumptions that passage of the lodging tax measure would weaken enforcement of short‑term rental prohibitions. Officials said the resolution aims to provide a single, factual explanation of the tax and the county’s position on short‑term rentals.

What was not decided: The board discussed but did not adopt any ordinance or code change regarding rentals; the item on Monday was a resolution to clarify the tax and the board’s intent and to provide factual material to the public.