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Coffee County raises transient guest tax to 5% and adjusts tourism board membership
Summary
The board adopted Resolution No. 2026‑981 to raise the county transient guest tax from 3% to 5% and to amend tourism board composition (keeping a commissioner, adding a hospitality industry seat and making the ED director ex officio); the resolution passed by voice vote, 5‑0.
The Coffee County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to increase the county transient guest tax from 3% to 5% and to reconstitute the Tourism and Visitors Board.
Economic Development Director James H. told commissioners the tourism board recommended the increase to align Coffee County with neighboring counties active in tourism and to expand the available funding for destination promotion. He also recommended staff changes to board composition that keep a county commissioner as a member, add a hospitality‑industry representative (hotel or short‑term rental operator), and make the Economic Development Director an ex officio member to handle administrative duties.
Commissioners discussed outreach to local hospitality operators and how short‑term rentals (for example, Airbnbs with more than two bedrooms) automatically remit the tax via the platform. After brief discussion, the board moved and approved Resolution No. 2026‑981 (amending the transient guest tax rate and tourism board bylaws) by voice vote (5‑0). Staff said they would publish the updated resolution and advertise for the new board seat as required.
Revenue from the transient guest tax was discussed as an ongoing funding source for tourism marketing and related projects; staff will handle recruitment and follow the usual appointment process for the additional seat.
Next steps: publish the resolution and advertise the open hospitality industry seat; staff will notify the board when the appointment process begins.
