Housing board discusses 1% housing tax compliance and short‑term rental registration overlap

Members of the New Shoreham Housing Board reviewed early returns for the town’s 1% housing tax and discussed ways to improve compliance and simplify the process for owners who rented properties last year.

Board members said about $78,000 had been collected before the meeting and noted confusion among homeowners about whether the 1% is a required tax or an optional form. One participant said the notices sent this year “made it sound optional,” and the board asked town staff to clarify the language on the return forms and bulletin‑board notices.

Multiple members recommended aligning the 1% collection with the new short‑term rental registration program so owners completing rental registration would also be prompted about the 1% tax. Suggestions included adding a checkbox to the short‑term rental application asking whether the owner paid the prior year’s 1% and attaching a worksheet from local rental agents showing gross rents and a computed 1% due.

Board members discussed enforcement limits: the town has no full‑time staff dedicated to short‑term rental licensing and enforcement, and compliance work would compete with existing workloads. Several members proposed hiring part‑time help or asking local rental agencies to include the 1% worksheet with their year‑end statements to owners.

The board asked town staff to review the returns to estimate compliance and to prepare an agenda item for a future meeting focused on enforcement mechanisms, form language and a coordinated communications plan. One member proposed posting a blank 1% form as an attachment on the town website for owners who misplaced mailed copies.

No formal enforcement action was adopted at the meeting; board members agreed to continue monitoring returns, coordinate with the short‑term rental registration effort and consider modest staffing or agent‑assisted collection options before pursuing penalties.