OCEAN CITY – If legislation allowing for the ability to raise the room tax in Ocean City through Worcester County is going to be successful in the current session, it’s going to need some help from outside sources.
After raising the room tax in Ocean City in 2019 from 4.5% to 5%, resort officials are seeking to hike the rate again, or at least have the ability to raise the tax, to 6%. It’s a complicated process that must originate with the Worcester County Commissioners.
Earlier this year, Mayor Rick Meehan, at the bequest of the City Council, asked the county commissioners to support legislation that would allow for the ability to raise the room tax rate. The county commissioners last month voted to ask for a change in state law that would give the county the authority to increase the room tax from 5% to 6%.
The next step is the introduction of legislation in the General Assembly by a member of the local delegation, in this case Delegate Wayne Hartman, to amend the state law and allow for the room tax hike. Hartman has apparently prepared the legislation, but it was learned this week there could be a glitch in the process that could slow it down. Council Secretary Tony DeLuca asked about the progress at the close of Monday’s meeting.
“I have a question,” he said. “It has to do with the follow-up on the room tax legislation. For this legislative session, is there anything that’s needed from us?”
HAHAAHAHAHA Open your eyes City Fail!
““This was an obstacle he did not anticipate,” he said. “We didn’t anticipate it either, but they’re continuing to try to move it forward. It still has the possibility to make this legislative session.” So the old way of doing business to hike tax rates isn’t in play anymore? HAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHA “Possibility” HAHAHAHAHAA
Kent County, Caroline and Queen Anne’s counties need to approve this tax increase and they get nada? FAT CHANCE!!!!!
The bigger question is why the need to raise the hotel tax rate? Just did that in 2019. Is there an inability to manage resources properly?? Receiving more money sometimes is not the solution. Once taxes go up, they never ever come down.
Nov 2022 cannot get here fast enough.
Why not just go straight to 10% and not dick around with increases for the next twenty years?
Believe it or not (as i’m laughing while typing), its called checks and balances. Hence the legislative rules that prohibit municipalities or the 2nd largest City in MD during the summer from doing this.
City Hall didn’t know about this? HA.
Tax tax tax
That’s all politicians think about