OKC officials advocate for hotel tax hike, citing benefits and minimal resident impact
OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — Oklahoma City voters will decide if the city should raise its hotel tax for the first time in 20 years this week.
If approved by voters on Tuesday, the hotel tax would increase nearly four percent to put OKC on par with some neighboring cities like Tulsa and Witchita, and officials say that extra income could greatly benefit the city in numerous ways.
According to the City of Oklahoma City, if the hotel tax election passes, the increase is projected to bring in an additional $11.6 million,
"The tax is broken down 75% goes to tourism or visitation promotion, 13% of that goes for a financial incentive tool to lure more marquee and large events here, and then the balance goes for capital improvements to the convention center as well as the Oklahoma City fairgrounds," said Visit OKC President, Zac Craig.
The tax would be charged to people staying overnight in hotels or Airbnbs, and would rise from 5.5% to 9.25%, the first increase since 2004,
"We haven't done this as a community in about two decades, and really, with all the development that's taken place in Oklahoma City over the last two decades, and everything in the queue, we really feel like now is the time," Craig said.
Officials with the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber say the tax will cost visitors but benefit residents,
"Residents overwhelmingly don't pay this, visitors pay this tax, but the beautiful thing about it is residents can enjoy all the benefits," said Craig, "Tourism brings a lot of sales tax to the city and to the state, $350 million to be exact, specifically, about $100 million drops into our general fund in the city of Oklahoma City each and every year."
But some officials like OKC City Councilwoman for Ward 6, JoBeth Hamon say they'll be voting no on Tuesday.
Hamon took to social media to voice her opinion,
Polls will open for the hotel tax election this Tuesday, August 27th.
If passed the new tax rate will go into effect on October 1st.