Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Finance Bed Tax topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Cheektowaga officials say hotel bed tax collection to begin July 1 as implementation issues persist
Summary
Town officials told the board they expect collection of the new hotel bed tax to begin July 1 after delays tied to point-of-sale changes, legal amendments and hotel contracts; residents questioned the timeline and whether the town missed revenue this year.
Town officials told the Cheektowaga Town Board on April 14 they are working to put the recently authorized hotel bed tax into collection and expect ‘full-fledged’ collections to begin by July 1, while acknowledging implementation hurdles.
Supervisor Brian Noak and Controller Dennis Rzinski described outreach to hotel owners, technical barriers in point-of-sale systems for corporate-managed properties, the need to adjust local law to align remittance timing with neighboring jurisdictions, and uncertainty about rooms covered where Erie County contracts place occupants in local hotels. Rzinski said amendments may be needed so the town can collect on a quarterly schedule that mirrors other municipalities.
Some residents and board members expressed frustration at perceived delay. Don Philipsky and others urged earlier planning and called the timing “not proactive,” while another public commenter said the town had “dropped the ball” and warned lost revenue could be significant.
Noak defended the town’s work, saying staff have been developing the administration process since the law was passed and that the town is moving at a similar pace to Buffalo’s implementation. He said the town expects to meet budget forecasts but acknowledged the initial remittance schedule will require accommodation and that certain rooms under county contracts may not be taxable.
What happens next: Officials said they will send a final notice to hotels in early May and continue registration and technical assistance. The controller recommended a final local-law amendment to ease timing and administration; the board asked staff to return with a proposed schedule and clarification on rooms covered by county contracts.
Representative quote: "We are looking right now at full‑fledged collection of taxes come third quarter at July 1st," Supervisor Noak said during the meeting.
Context note: The town enacted the local law after the state authorized the tax; municipal officials commonly face POS and contract issues when beginning local collection of newly authorized lodging taxes.
