Thursday, March 28, 2024
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Pickett Co. Considering Occupancy Tax To Boost Revenue

Pickett County commissioners are weighing their options as to how the county can generate more revenue.

Commissioners discussed the potential for an occupancy tax during Monday’s meeting before the item was tabled.

Chamber of Commerce Director Bill Robbins said many residents in Pickett County rent out their homes to vacationers through websites like Airbnb.

“You have estimated anywhere between 90 and 100 individual homeowners that are competing with [marinas] and renting out their homes during the summertime,” Robbins said. “They don’t have a business license and don’t collect sales tax. So this rule should apply for them also.”

Robbins said how much money an occupancy tax would generate is currently unknown.

“Definitely if you’ve got more money coming in, that’s money you didn’t have coming in [before],” Robbins said. “To what extent or how much we’re talking about, nobody seems to be able to say exactly how much that amount is. I’ve heard different numbers as low as $30,000 and as high as $60,000 to $70,000. I don’t know what the exact number is. It could possibly be a good source, it could possibly be not that great.”

State law requires all revenue collected through occupancy taxes go towards tourism.

Estimates presented during Monday’s commission meeting indicates Pickett County brought in approximately $4.5 million in revenue last fiscal year while spending $5.1 million. The commission also tabled discussions on a potential wheel tax referendum at the start of Monday’s meeting.

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