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Tourism leaders urge Cayuga County to capture short-term rental taxes at public hearing
Summary
At a public hearing on a proposed local law to tax short-term rentals, a tourism official urged the legislature to ensure STR taxes and bed taxes are collected and remitted to the county, citing industry data on visitor spending and economic return.
The Cayuga County Legislature opened a public hearing on a proposed local law to impose a tax on short-term rentals (STRs). Tourism stakeholders urged the county to adopt rules guaranteeing STR tax collection and remittance of bed taxes to the county.
Erin Castor, identified as the managing director and board chair for the county—s tourism organization, told legislators the industry has data-driven tools for measuring visitor spending and movements and urged that the STR local law be phrased so the county captures that revenue. She cited tourism-economics methodologies — including spending estimates checked against government data sources — and argued tourism is an economic driver with a strong return on public investment.
Clerk/staff read the formal public-notice language for the local law tied to 'chapter 533 of the laws of 1994.' The public hearing was closed later in the session, and legislators moved to place the local-law discussion on the table for deliberation and further action; subsequent procedural steps included motioning items off the table and a Republicans' caucus before the item returned to general session for continued consideration.
Next steps: The legislature will continue consideration of the local law; staff were instructed to make the item available for further committee review and possible amendment.
