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Small western Massachusetts town of Charlemont seeks local recreation tax to cover visitor‑driven service costs
Summary
Charlamont officials requested authority under H.44‑35 to levy a commercial recreation services tax to fund increased emergency and infrastructure costs from tourism; town administrator said the measure is modeled on meals/rooms taxes and enjoys local business support.
Charlemont town officials told the Joint Committee on Revenue that a targeted recreation tax would help a small, rural community absorb the costs of visitation without increasing the property tax burden on year‑round residents.
Sarah Reynolds, Charlemont’s town administrator, said the town of about 1,185 residents operates on an annual budget of roughly $5 million, more than one‑third of residents live on fixed or low incomes, and visitor volumes — for a local ski area and river recreation — sometimes exceed the year‑round population. "This tax does not place the burden on the people who live here year round," Reynolds said. Instead, she said, it asks visitors to help cover the cost of police, fire and EMS calls tied to recreational use.
Town Moderator Bob Hansaker said local leaders and recreation businesses co‑developed the proposal and that, to his knowledge, businesses support a tax that creates a level playing field across providers. Hansaker described the tax as modeled after existing local meals and rooms taxes and said it would be simple to implement.
Committee members asked technical questions about how the proposed tax would operate compared with state rules; the panel said they will submit written testimony with additional detail. The committee took testimony but did not vote.
