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Discover Kalamazoo praises county treasurer's new accommodations tax system that improves visibility into short-term rentals
Summary
Discover Kalamazoo told commissioners the county treasurer's new accommodations tax remittance system has improved visibility into short-term rentals and brought 20 owners into compliance through June, enabling more even competition with hotels and better event support.
Jane Ghosh, president and CEO of Discover Kalamazoo, commended the Kalamazoo County Treasurer's Office for implementing a new accommodations-tax remittance system that gives the county and destination-marketing organizations better visibility into short-term rental activity.
Ghosh said the system has enabled the detection and registration of short-term rentals such as Airbnb and VRBO listings that are subject to the county's accommodations tax. "There have been 20 owners of Airbnbs and VRBOs who through June have collected and remitted those accommodations taxes," she said, and noted Discover Kalamazoo has sent newly compliant operators a welcome packet to help them create listings and access promotional leads.
Ghosh said better compliance helps level the playing field between hotels and short-term rentals, which she called important for events that bring visitors to Kalamazoo County venues. She cited the United Kennel Club Premier National Dog Show at the Kalamazoo County Parks & Expo Center as an example of an event that benefited from accommodations-tax revenue. "Shout out to the county treasurer's office for this. It's gonna be a game changer for us and county parks," she said.
No formal action was required; the remarks were delivered during the public-comment period as informational praise and to note improved compliance.
