OCEAN CITY – With the clock suddenly ticking on the upcoming General Assembly session, legislation that could enable the Town of Ocean City to raise its room tax if desired still needs approval from three other Eastern Shore counties before heading to Annapolis.
After raising the room tax in Ocean City in 2019 from 4.5% to 5%, resort officials have been looking into possibly raising the rate again, or at least the ability to raise the rate. Gaining the ability to raise the room tax rate is a complicated process made more difficult after it was learned the town and Worcester County would need the approval of three other “code” counties on the Eastern Shore, including Kent, Caroline and Queen Anne’s.
In order to have the ability to raise the room tax rate, Ocean City needed, and has since obtained, consent from Worcester County. While it is largely a local Ocean City issue, the ability to raise room tax rates would apply throughout the county, so any proposed enabling legislation aimed at that purpose had to first go through the county commissioners.
Armed with the consent of the Worcester County Commissioners, resort officials last year had draft legislation prepared to submit to its representatives in Annapolis for the 2022 General Assembly session, including state Senator Mary Beth Carozza and Delegate Wayne Hartman. However, it was learned at the 11th hour because Worcester is one of four code counties on the shore, the enabling legislation would have to have the consent of the three other counties.
With the draft enabling legislation for the proposed room tax increase put on the shelf last year, resort officials began working on another attempt for the upcoming General Assembly session. At the close of Monday’s regular meeting, Council Secretary Tony DeLuca asked about the status of the proposed enabling legislation for the upcoming session. He directed his question at Mayor Rick Meehan.
Somewhere to Smile About? Really RICK? Nice letter in the local paper. 100000 sent surveys with only 5200 returned. Was that all via pony express? In a world of the 21st century only 5200? Cant get that amount during election season. Hell 1700 or so voted for you AND u ran unopposed. What 7700 or 8k registered voters here on the island?????
The smile logo is 1990s. Dont worry be happy. Sir, u must find a solution to fill receipts (hotel rooms) during the week. There is huge new building going up on the north end amd Margaritaville downtown. ALL approved by your folks. Yet filling rooms mid week continue to be a problem. Or shutting a weekend down in sept becuz of social media chatter for a bunch of cars. They didnt come this year, but the LEO saturation ate into FY resources. Rem when businesses that closed down during the offseason kept their lights on to advertise? Maybe even opening up for a few weekends? Hell theybare dark now. Why? To save money. They have closed earlier to sage month.
You sir have a bigger problem than a slogan or smile. The island is hemorrhaging, yet you slap lipstick on it.
What is the future have in store? The CIP? Looking at 2030, 2040. 2050? 50 bridge will not last that long yet you all push for a route 90 build. Route 90 will always STOP at coastal highway. It will always STOP at route 50 into 2 lanes.
Wind mills too?
Pop Harrison just passed. Bill from Dough roller over a year ago. Fager, Trimper, Leighton are not here in 20 yrs. Hell u wont either.
Must play ahead. KELLY, POWELL DID.
And another thing RICKIE….lets talk about the new Suckcast agreement so the city gets almost $1.1m now until 2027 of revenues. Its thanksgiving and im watching traditional football on salisbury FOX station. At 3pm the station turns over to Delmarva outdoors (im sure an automatic thing since everyone with a reg job there is off and interns are running the board. We ARE a major city in MD. The ONLY commercial beach in MD. Yet this takes place? WORLD CUP of soccer is on. FOX is the USA commercial station televising games (soccer is a world.sport…..uh many here on delmarva legally and illegally have an interest) yet we got to watch a Philly thanksgiving parade instead of world cup?
Before you say we have no control over yap yap. Yes u do, you signed a contract witb Suckcast again. The lone monopoly. Hell they finally got to OPines in the las5 year. You dictate the contract terms. You can talk with Fake Day in Salisbury….or Larry on the corner or Jimmy in Annapolis so WE are represented. There was a reason why there were baltimore and dc stations previously….ao out of towners could see their familiars why here. They bring their money, make them happy.
21st century and Pally u and company are way out of touch.
Raising prices by increasing taxes will only deter people from vacationing or even day trips to Ocean City, all prices are relevant. Local people like to visit OC too for the beach, french fries, popcorn, bars, etc, but we too are being priced out. So go ahead and raise rates again and watch OC go to hell.