The Kent County Board of Commissioners voted 15 to 3 in favor of amending the current lodging tax with a proposal appearing on the August ballot. If voters approve, it will allow the board to increase the current 5% lodging tax to no more than 8%. The additional revenue would help fund entertainment venues like the forthcoming Acrisure Amphitheater, professional soccer stadium and potential future projects like an aquarium.
Many city leaders spoke in favor of adding the proposal to the ballot at Thursday’s meeting, including Mayor Rosalynn Bliss, as well as Rick Winn representing AHC Hospitality.
“Obviously our customers are going to be paying these increases, but we fully support it as the return on these investments cannot be understated.”
Resident Robert Womack asked the commission to consider the unhoused population who often use local lodging as a temporary means of housing.
“As those taxes are levied, I would ask people to keep in mind that there should be some way that they also benefit in some type of way or are kept in the loop because they will be paying some of those taxes.”
According to the current ordinance, anyone who stays longer than 30 days at a hotel is not charged the Lodging Excise Tax.
