Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transient Lodging Tax topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Owner of local short-term rental urges clearer accounting for transient lodging tax revenue
Summary
City staff reported a new dedicated account for transient-occupancy (lodging) tax receipts and said collections totaled just under $9,000 in FY25. An Airbnb owner told council she supports visitors but questioned transparency and benefit to taxpaying hosts.
City staff told the Staton City Council on July 21 that the city has moved transient-occupancy tax (TOT) receipts into a dedicated account to improve tracking and that FY25 receipts totaled just under $9,000. The tax was adopted by ordinance in 1999 and the city reported it is self-reported by operators and has historically been recorded into a miscellaneous general-fund revenue line, making tracking difficult.
“As of February 2025, finance has instituted a new practice creating a dedicated account so that we can track that better,” staff said. The staff report said 10 properties are being tracked; one is not currently operating. Receipts are self-reported and staff rely on voluntary compliance; accounts-receivable staff will provide annual summaries going forward.
During public comment, Staton resident and short-term rental host Carol Seabens urged the council to ensure that lodging tax revenue benefits the taxed hosts and to improve transparency about how revenue is used. Seabens gave the council a historic payment example showing several years of small payments and said the tax yields limited revenue for the city but affects a small number of hosts.
Staff noted the ordinance lists allowable uses that are broader than the state’s post-2003 restrictions (the city’s uses are grandfathered) and cautioned that reducing or repealing the local tax could limit the municipality’s future flexibility if a hotel or larger lodging property locates in Staton.
Ending: Staff said they will provide clearer annual accounting of TOT receipts and that the city will continue to monitor Airbnb-type listings and compliance.
