Newburgh City Council voted on Monday, January 9 to hold a public hearing to receive comments on a Hotel Room Occupancy Tax. The public hearing will be held on Monday, January 23 at 7 p.m. The local law only applies to hotel rooms within the City of Newburgh.

Corporation Counsel Michelle Kelson said the local law defines what entity or entities will be taxed, tax collection and who will be covered by the program with other additional requirements. Certain exemptions included in this local law would be for charitable organizations and permanent residents of a hotel that need additional assistance. According to the local law documents on the city website, a tax of five percent shall be paid on any occupancy on and after April 1, 2023 but there will be forms and additional communication materials and information shared in preparation for the implementation of the tax.

Councilman Anthony Grice recognized Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson and Senator James Skoufis for their advocacy and support of this tax. “Having a different, another revenue source helps us when we’re lowering our property taxes or helps us stabilize those property taxes,” said Grice.

“This entire team [city council] with the leadership of (City Manager Todd) Venning pursued this and we had to get to and through the state representatives, the assembly and the state senator,” said Mayor Torrance Harvey. “Took a lot of hard work for this particular hotel tax.”

In the city along Grand Street, a new boutique hotel under the organization Foster Supply Hospitality is looking to convert several historic buildings into a hotel and community spaces for future tourism. Additional information on the local law is available on the city website for public review prior to the public hearing on January 23.