City Council approves using state lodging-tax funds for housing impact analysis

Greenville City Council voted to reallocate a portion of the state accommodations tax to support a housing impact analysis and related workforce-housing efforts, council members said during the Jan. 13 meeting.

The housing-impact analysis was the focus of public comment from Amber Stewart, advocacy and community engagement director with Greenville Housing Fund. "This analysis offers an opportunity to leverage several $100,000 in the state accommodations tax revenue, which will support not only affordable housing, but also the tourism industry and the essential workers who make up our community," Stewart said. She told council the analysis provides data about current needs, costs and wages that align with the city's Greenville 2040 plan and that local groups support the measure.

Council discussed the item during the consent portion of the agenda and moved to authorize the use of state accommodations tax funds for the housing-impact analysis and workforce housing development planning. The item was presented as continuing the city’s strategy of using local accommodations-tax revenue to support workforce housing, including prior downtown property acquisition discussed by staff and council.

The vote was recorded as the item advanced on the consent docket; council members cast aye votes during the roll call on the consent items. The motion did not include detailed project-level allocations; staff said the approved action facilitates spending the state's portion of accommodations tax revenue toward development and planning and that further project-level decisions will follow.

The approval was framed by council members as part of an ongoing effort to coordinate tourism-related revenues and affordable-workforce housing. Council members and staff said they expect to work with Greenville Housing Fund and other local partners on next steps.