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LaPorte County advances first reading of ordinance to tighten innkeepers tax enforcement
Summary
County officials held a first reading of an ordinance to clarify collection and enforcement procedures for LaPorte County's innkeepers tax after treasurer's office staff reported multiple properties were delinquent and some liabilities exceed tens of thousands of dollars.
On March 18 the LaPorte County Board of Commissioners held a first reading by title only of an ordinance intended to clarify and strengthen collection procedures for the county’s innkeepers (hotel) tax. Lauren Nerburgg, attorney for the LaPorte County Convention & Visitors Bureau, said the ordinance provides step-by-step guidance so the treasurer’s office can collect overdue remittances and pass funds to beneficiaries.
“Some of [the past‑due amounts] are up about $50,000 or even more,” Nerburgg told the commission, and the county treasurer’s office confirmed that at the end of 2025 there were roughly a dozen properties significantly behind on remittances. Kelly Wnjak, the treasurer’s innkeepers coordinator, said the county collects directly from some hotels and receives remitted funds from the state for third‑party platforms; overall the office tracks approximately 50 to 75 innkeepers under local administration.
The ordinance is intended to give the treasurer a clear sequence of steps—up to and including tax warrants—to recover unpaid trust taxes. The board authorized first reading by title (Ordinance No. 20261, “An ordinance setting forth the collection and enforcement mechanism for the LaPorte County Innkeepers Tax”). Treasury staff and the county attorney indicated they will work through a small number of clarifications before second reading.
Why it matters: Innkeepers tax revenue is distributed to beneficiaries for tourism and related services; missed remittances reduce funds available for those programs and can grow into large liabilities.
What happens next: County staff and legal counsel will address treasurer office concerns and return for a second reading with amendments as needed. A full vote to adopt the ordinance was not taken at this meeting.
