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Delaware County council adopts ordinance to raise hotel occupancy tax to 5%
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Summary
After a VisitDelco presentation showing visitor spending and job impacts, Delaware County Council voted to increase the hotel‑occupancy tax to 5%, directing the restricted revenue to VisitDelco for tourism promotion; the ordinance passed by roll call.
Delaware County Council voted Jan. 21 to adopt ordinance 2026‑01, increasing the county hotel‑occupancy tax to 5% and directing the restricted revenue to VisitDelco, the county’s designated tourism promotion agency.
The measure’s backers said the additional funding will let VisitDelco expand marketing and bring larger events to the county. "This is an exported tax; it is not a tax on county residents," Steve Byrne, executive director of VisitDelco, told council during a presentation. He cited 2024 figures showing about 4.5 million visitors, $840 million in visitor spending and 13,000 jobs tied to tourism, saying the county captured approximately $68 million in local tax revenue from those activities.
Council members who supported the ordinance said those results justify raising the rate to match neighboring counties and to make VisitDelco a more effective economic driver. Vice Chair Reuther moved for adoption after the presentation; other supporters said the tax is collected, placed into a restricted fund, and then appropriated for tourism promotion. "With increased investment, the services that VisitDelco can provide for our hoteliers pay off," one supportive councilmember said.
Opponents and several members of the public warned that higher levies can have local consequences. Speakers during public comment raised concerns about overall property‑tax increases in recent years and urged council to show specific examples of local benefit. Cindy Sabatini asked for concrete, community‑level examples of how VisitDelco’s spending has helped towns such as Swarthmore or Media.
Council conducted a roll‑call vote; Miss Phillips, Miss Schaefer, Councilwoman Taylor, Miss Reuther and Chair Richard Womack voted yes and ordinance 2026‑01 passed. Councilmembers noted the legal structure: most of the revenue will go to the restricted tourism fund and must be appropriated before VisitDelco spends it. Council discussion indicated the county intends the tax to be effective for January 2026 if all implementation steps are completed.
The ordinance text and a copy of the presentation are available on the county website; proponents said the next step will be appropriate appropriation and oversight of the restricted fund.
