Tax!

Did you have a knee-jerk, negative reaction to the word?

Most people do. It is one of a handful of words that solicits that type of response.

Recently, Executive Director of the Warren County Visitor’s Bureau, Dave Sherman, asked the Warren County Commissioners to increase the hotel occupancy tax in Warren County from 3% to the maximum 5%.

The average room rate in Warren County is roughly $100. You’re looking at a $2.00 increase or the cost of a cup of coffee.

This seems like a no-brainer to us. Anytime, we’ve booked a hotel room, the bed tax is not a deciding factor in our decision-making process.

Keep in mind, we are already paying this rate or higher elsewhere.

Warren County has lagged behind surrounding counties at 3% with Erie County at 7%, and McKean County and Crawford County at 5%.

The increase here amounts to roughly $30,000 in new revenue for the WCVB to use to promote Warren County.

At the last commissioners’ meeting the tax was tabled with a 2-1 vote with Ben Kafferlin and Jeff Eggleston tabling the tax. Commissioner Cindy Morrison voted against tabling the tax.

We agree with Mrs. Morrison.

Kafferlin said that he has more emails against than for the bed tax and Eggleston said he needed more time.

We would respectfully like to point out that the commissioners met with Sherman in September and spoke specifically on this issue with Sherman providing a lengthy list of possible expenditures for the additional funds that would enhance the work they’re already doing.

So, we are left asking ourselves two simple questions.

1.     Should the county commissioners do what they can to promote Warren County?

2.     Has the WCVB since Sherman has taken the helm been an effective entity?

We answer a resounding yes to both.

Even with Sherman rescinding his request, we urge the county commissioners to revisit this issue in two-weeks like they said they would and vote yes to increase the hotel occupancy tax in Warren County.

A vote against the increased bed tax is a vote against the growth of Warren County.

Growth is not as scary a word.