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Chamber: occupancy tax down 3% year‑over‑year; short‑term rentals tracked with $688,000 YTD revenue
Summary
The Chamber of Commerce reported occupancy tax fell 3% from March 2025 to March 2026 while average daily room rates rose 2%; the Chamber is tracking 264 short‑term rental listings with $688,000 in year‑to‑date revenue.
Legislator Joshua Kretser told the Clinton County Legislature that the Chamber of Commerce provided updated lodging and short‑term rental figures: occupancy tax receipts for March (year‑over‑year) were down 3 percent while the average daily rate for rooms rose 2 percent. Total lodging revenue was reported at $1.9 million, unchanged year over year, and 2026 occupancy is up 15 percent compared with 2025.
Kretser said the Chamber has begun tracking short‑term rentals: there are 264 active listings with year‑to‑date revenue of $688,000, an average daily rate of $143, and a 21 percent occupancy rate. He noted that while Canadian travel to the U.S. is down, many Canadians continue to travel to Florida (context provided by the Chamber).
Why it matters: tourism and lodging trends affect county tax receipts, local hotels and short‑term rental hosts, and economic development planning. The minutes record the Chamber’s figures as summarized to the Legislature; they are attributed to the liaison report and should be verified with the Chamber or the county’s finance office for use in budgeting.
