Upper Merion explored several ways to pay for its proposed sports and entertainment district. Increasing Montgomery County’s bed tax was one. In a June 10 letter to Montgomery County commissioners, Board Chair Tina Garzillo wrote that “there can be no Project without the bed tax increase.”
The letter sought support for state legislation that would allow the county to raise its hotel tax. It said county commissioners would still decide whether to do so and how much revenue, if any, to direct to the project.
The project’s current status remains unclear. I’ve asked for an update and will share what I learn.
The state budget was signed a month later, on July 12. It did not authorize the proposed increase to 8%. State law still limits Montgomery County’s hotel tax to 5%, and the county continues to charge 4%. The township has not publicly clarified what that means for the project.
The county’s existing 4% hotel tax funds the Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board. The proposal sought to raise the tax and use a portion of the additional revenue to help finance the Upper Merion project.
Would you support raising Montgomery County’s hotel tax from 4% to as much as 8%, with part of the increase used to help fund this project?
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Corey