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Leavenworth County commissioners adopt charter resolution to authorize up to 6% transient guest tax
Summary
County commissioners approved a charter resolution to establish a transient guest tax option, allowing the county to set a rate (staff drafted a 6% example) for short-term lodging to fund tourism, conventions and economic development; the measure will be published twice and may be subject to a 60-day referendum if petitioned.
Leavenworth County commissioners voted to adopt a charter resolution giving the county authority to impose a transient guest tax and to set a rate higher than the statutory 2% cap. County staff presented two options: a statutory 2% tax limited to tourism and convention promotion, or a charter resolution (staff drafted a 6% model) that would allow proceeds to be used also for economic development, subject to findings that proposed expenditures increase visits to the county.
The county administrator told the board that the state collects guest-tax revenues and retains a small administrative fee; staff said there is no reliable local estimate for revenue from short-term rentals because the county does not currently collect that data. Commissioners asked whether a county tax would stack with city taxes; staff explained the county tax does not stack where a city already levies a guest tax. The charter resolution requires four affirmative votes to pass. If adopted it will be published twice and enter a 60-day window during which a referendum petition could be filed; if no referendum is filed, the county will notify the Kansas Department of Revenue and collections would begin the next reporting quarter.
Supporters on the commission described the measure as a user fee that shifts some cost for roads and facilities to visitors and short-term renters, and as a seed fund for economic development projects the county may pursue. Commissioners who raised concerns pressed staff on statutory limits on permissible uses and on the lack of a local revenue estimate; staff reiterated that a statutory 2% option is restricted to tourism/convention promotion, while a charter resolution can expand allowable uses tied to economic development but still requires the board to find that spending will increase visitors.
Next steps: the county will publish the adopted charter resolution as required by statute and wait the 60-day referendum period; the county clerk will notify the Kansas Department of Revenue to arrange collection if the resolution takes effect.
