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Tourism director: HB 8 expands transient room tax to short-term rentals; county buys office and ordinances advanced
Summary
Tourism Director Amy Ellis told the fiscal court that HB 8 expands the county’s 3% transient room tax to VRBO, Airbnb and campgrounds; the court advanced two new ordinances and Ellis announced Tourism’s purchase of 105 West Cedar Street for office space and plans to sell the tourism cabin at 81 Steele Road.
Tourism Director Amy Ellis told the Simpson County Fiscal Court on Dec. 20 that new state legislation (HB 8) expands the county’s existing 3% transient room tax to cover short-term rental platforms such as VRBO and Airbnb, as well as campgrounds. Ellis said the county currently collects the local tax from ten hotels and a campground on a regular basis.
Ellis also announced that Simpson County Tourism purchased the building at 105 West Cedar Street (adjacent to the County Clerk’s Office) for use as permanent office space, with additional satellite space to remain at the Sandford Duncan Inn at 5083 Nashville Road. She said the Tourism “cabin” at 81 Steele Road will be sold.
After the presentation the court approved first readings of two ordinances to implement the broader taxation: Ordinance No. 220.246 (repealing Ordinance No. 220.209) and Ordinance No. 220.247 (enacting a new transient room tax). Both ordinances advanced on motions and recorded affirmative votes.
Why it matters The expansion of taxable rental categories could increase local tourism revenue and change collection responsibilities for short-term rental platforms and campground operators. The new ordinances vest the county with an updated local code to conform with HB 8 and enable county collection of the 3% transient room tax from the newly covered rental categories.
Next steps The ordinances advanced on first reading and will return to the court for subsequent readings and any formal adoption process required by county ordinance procedures.
