Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Tourism Tax Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Saratoga Springs to ask county for 1% occupancy tax hike and to remove small‑lodging carve‑out
Summary
The council discussed a resolution to request that the county amend state tax law to add 1 percentage point to the local occupancy tax and to eliminate an exemption for lodging facilities with fewer than four rentable units; staff said any bed tax revenues would not be realized until 2026.
Saratoga Springs commissioners discussed a draft resolution requesting the county to seek changes to New York State tax law (Article 29, Part 1, Subpart A, Section 1202‑g(1)) that would authorize a 1 percentage point increase to the city’s occupancy (bed) tax and remove the carve-out that exempts lodging facilities with fewer than four rentable units.
City staff and commissioners said the change has been under discussion for some time. Matt Jones is expected to present more detailed information at the council’s next meeting. Staff noted that even if approved, revenue from any occupancy-tax increase would not be included in city revenue calculations until 2026; in the near term the city is relying on sales tax projections.
Commissioners discussed whether to pursue half a percent or a full percentage point increase; one commissioner said their preference was for 1 percent but acknowledged negotiations could narrow that figure. The draft resolution will be forwarded to the county for consideration; no final vote on a city resolution was recorded at this meeting.
