MEDINA, Ohio – A bill that would impose a lodging tax in the city is before the City Council for consideration. The Council voted to give the bill a first reading on August 26 and will vote on the ordinance in the near future.
“I have asked that this bill go through the usual three-reading process to ensure that everyone who wants to comment on it has the opportunity to do so,” said Councilman Paul Rose.
Rose said that under state law, the city has the right to impose a tax of up to three percent on hotel stays within the city.
“Wadsworth and Brunswick already do this in their hotels and it’s another way to increase the city’s revenue streams without raising tax rates,” he said.
At previous meetings, council members had stated that the lodging tax would be imposed on hotels of a certain size, such as the proposed Legacy Hotel to be built on the square, and would exempt the smaller existing hotels within the city limits.
“Based on the expected 66 percent occupancy rate at Legacy, the city could earn up to $100,000 a year,” Rose said.
Council Chairman John Coyne said the aim of the additional revenue, if the law is passed, is to use it for improvements to the square and its surroundings.
“We want to use the money raised from building the hotel near the hotel to make the area more attractive and keep everything nice and tidy so that we can encourage others who come to our community to use these facilities,” he said.
