reprinted from:
Rockland's hotel tax increase request to be re-filed
By Paysha Stockton ROCKLAND - Chances for raising Rockland's hotel room tax aren't looking good, Selectman Larry Ryan said. Ryan and Town Administrator Bradley Plante testified in front of the Legislature's Joint Committee on Taxation Tuesday. Legislators did not seem receptive to Rockland's proposal to raise its hotel room tax from 4 to 6 percent, Ryan said. "I'm not very hopeful that it's going to be passed," he said. The town planned to use the extra money to bolster its stabilization fund and create a capital improvement fund. Ryan said lawmakers seem to be responding to Governor-elect Mitt Romney's intent to hold the line on new taxes. "They want to look at every avenue of taxation before they allow the towns to get creative," he said. Legislators said they would take the request under advisement, he said. "They know the towns are hurting." The Senate bill that would allow Rockland to raise its hotel tax has been refiled for next session, Ryan said. It is sponsored by state Rep. Robert Nyman, D-Hanover, and state Sen. Michael Morrissey, D-Quincy. Other cities and towns, including Boston, already charge a higher hotel room tax than the state's 4 percent. In 2001, Rockland collected an estimated
$272,000 in hotel room taxes from the 304 rooms in its three Hingham Street
hotels. |
