Steve Thurston (2021)
Bolton Landing is among the localities that have regulated short-term rentals in the county. Occupancy taxes, or "bed taxes," are collected with the rent.
Warren County’s bed tax revenues are up $2.4 million for 2021, and there’s still two months left for hotels, motels and short-term rental property owners to send in their fourth-quarter tax receipts.
The county has already collected $6.44 million in occupancy tax funds from the 4% tax on lodging, according to figures supplied by the Warren County Treasurer’s Office. Last year at this time, it had collected $4.09-million. That’s a 57.4% increase.
It’s not unreasonable to think the 2021 final total will be $2.5 million more than 2020 totals, officials said.
Sales tax revenue is also up nearly $10 million for 2021, a 17.4% increase over 2020, the treasurer’s office says.
With the $12.4-million the county expects to receive in stimulus money through the American Rescue Plan Act, Warren County may be flush with unexpected cash to the tune of $24.5 million in found money.
Warrensburg Supervisor Kevin Geraghty, chair of the County Board of Supervisors, said “It’s always a good sign when the occupancy tax is up.”
He said he believes part of the increase is due to the county collecting from residents who rent out their homes for short stays using companies like VRBO or AirBNB.
In 2020, county officials predicted bed taxes collected from short-term rental property owners would generate an additional $250,000.
“Last winter was good, the summer was excellent, people wanted to get out and they came to our area,” Geraghty said.
What will the county do with the extra money?
“In occupancy tax, it allows us to continue to promote the county and get the best bang for our buck in promotions,” he said. “For the sales tax, it goes to fund balance. As far as what projects we fund with that extra money, we really have to be cautious with that.”
Potentially, he said the county could reduce their debt load with the surplus funds.
“When they close the books and we find out exactly how much we have, that is when we can make those decisions,” he said.
Editor's Note: Treasurer Mike Swan is out of the office for a couple weeks, but we plan to speak with him for a more complete breakdown of the numbers.