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Council unanimously approves ordinance expanding innkeepers— tax audit and collection authority
Summary
The County Council voted unanimously Nov. 6 to amend the innkeepers (hotel) tax ordinance to provide additional collection and audit authority; council also approved procedural waivers to make the ordinance a first-and-final reading.
Vanderburgh County Council unanimously approved an amendment to the county—s innkeepers (hotel) tax ordinance on Nov. 6 to add collection and audit authority intended to improve compliance and revenue collection.
Treasurer—s office staff described the change as adding "teeth" to the existing ordinance, enabling audits or additional checks to ensure hotel operators remit appropriate taxes. The staff said other Indiana counties have enacted similar language and that audits are rarely frequent but provide necessary checks; if audits were performed, the Treasurer recommended using the Destination Marketing Organization to cover audit costs initially and recouping those costs from recovered proceeds.
Council first voted unanimously to waive the second reading and make the measure a first-and-final reading, then voted to approve ordinance CO-011-24-013. President Hahn conducted a roll-call; each council member recorded a "yes" vote.
Why it matters: Clarifying audit and collection authority changes the county—s revenue-compliance tools and could generate recovered revenue for the convention/promo funds and the convention center operating fund if unremitted taxes are identified.
What happens next: Staff will implement the ordinance language and may, with Treasurer approval, initiate audits should evidence or routine checks indicate collections issues.
