Council to consider repealing local occupancy-tax exemption to align with county and state changes

Saratoga Springs City Council discussed proposed Local Law No. 10 of 2025, a repeal of a local occupancy-tax (bed tax) exemption for some organizations. City staff said the repeal is intended to align the city’s municipal code with recent state law changes and to enable collection of occupancy tax once the county completes related actions.

Staff thanked local contributors who helped prepare the change and said they had met with the county attorney’s office; the county plans to take related legislation to its legislature in November. Staff said the city appears to be the only municipality in the county that still carries the exemption and that removing it should simplify countywide compliance and increase the city’s ability to collect bed tax revenue for uses such as public safety.

City staff also said they would continue coordinating with the county to ensure the local repeal and county actions occur in tandem. The council did not adopt the local law at the Oct. 31 meeting; the item was scheduled for public hearing and possible action at the next council meeting.