With the support of state senator James Skoufis and assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson, the town of Newburgh moved forward at the May 29 workshop meeting to create a new hotel motel tax.

This special legislation, if authorized by the New York State legislature, would allow the town to tax hotels and motels within its jurisdiction up to five percent of the charge on the rate of each room. The tax would be imposed on the owner of the facility, not the renter. This tax would not apply to permanent residents of a hotel or motel, someone residing there longer for 90 consecutive days. The tax money would go solely to the town to reduce the tax burden on its residents, not to the state.

“We tried a few years ago to get the hotel motel tax. It was successful in Woodbury and of course the county was successful from the start…we are trying to get this put through again. Skoufis and Jacobsen are going to sponsor it,” said town supervisor Gil Piaquadio.

According to the local law, a hotel or motel is defined as “any facility consisting of rentable units and providing lodging on an overnight basis.” The law states that this would include “bed and breakfasts” as well as “tourist facilities.” Piaquadio stated in an email to the Mid-Hudson Times that Airbnb renters, people who rent out a room in their home or their entire house through an online service, would be included in this hotel motel tax. Airbnb listings in the town of Newburgh in the month of June ranged from $65 a night to $499 for the use of a house on Orange Lake, and $682 for a Balmville riverfront home.