Chamber wants to hike occupancy tax revenues

Representatives of the Alleghany Chamber of Commerce appeared before the Alleghany County Board of Commissioners Monday night to discuss the possibility of increasing occupancy tax revenues.

The county did not vote on the move, but agreed to hold a public hearing at their next meeting — April 19 at 10:30 a.m. — prior to making any changes.

Occupancy taxes are paid by travelers and tourists who utilize local lodging, such as bed and breakfasts, motels or other rental property. Leanne Murray, executive director of the chamber, said the tax is currently 3 percent.

"We don't want to change the amount of the tax, we just want to make it more equitably collected," she said. Murray noted that smaller businesses, such as those who own one unit, are currently not collecting the tax. Only those with multiple units are collecting it, she noted.

A business has to have five or more units to be required to pay the tax now, she noted.

Meetings were held with local innkeepers and others who will be affected by the change, she said, as well as a private meeting that was held with two commissioners.

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