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Small business owner urges county to study expanded lodging tax to fund amenities
Summary
Local business owner Jeremy Johnson urged commissioners to explore a lodging-tax expansion similar to measures in Kent County that could generate millions for public amenities, proposing a 10% margin distribution split for marketing, amenities and infrastructure.
Jeremy Johnson, a Marquette County resident and hospitality small-business owner, used the public-comment period to urge the Board of Commissioners to explore expanding the county’s lodging-tax authority to fund infrastructure and public amenities. "I'm here tonight to encourage the county to explore and support 2 policies that could add $3,500,000 per year to our budget," he said, citing Michigan jurisdictions that have used expanded lodging taxes to fund parks, marinas and other public projects.
Johnson described local tourism's pressure on county infrastructure — roads, utilities and emergency services — and argued that a targeted lodging fee paid by visitors could fund local priorities without raising resident taxes. He sketched a proposed 10% lodging-tax distribution: 3% for travel marketing, 3% for public amenities (marinas, museums, trail systems), 3% for critical infrastructure (roads, fire, waste services) and 1% for regional travel organizations.
County staff took the comment for consideration and invited Johnson to provide documentation and follow up with staff via email. Commissioners did not vote on the proposal; Johnson said he would send supporting materials.
