Syracuse, N.Y. - Onondaga County lawmakers will consider raising the room occupancy tax for hotels today.
A proposal calls for the tax to jump from 5 % to 7 %. The tax would generate less than $3 million dollars in new revenue.
County Legislature Chair Dave Knapp says the increase keeps Onondaga County in range with Upstate's largest counties. "It will get us jest a hair higher than [Erie, Monroe, and Albany counties].When you look at the aggregate the cost of our rooms are a little less so as a percentage this isn't going to put us out of the market."
Knapp adds that increasing the tax would ease some financial stress and would not burden taxpayers in Onondaga County.
Knapp expects that lawmakers will approve the measure. It will go to the state legislature for final approval.