Tuesday, December 24, 2019
After some disagreement over the effective date of the ordinance, Dewey Beach commissioners voted 3-2 on March 2 to impose a 1.5 percent lodging tax on hotels, motels and tourist homes starting July 1.
Commissioner David Jasinski said enacting the tax is the right thing to do, but making it effective April 1 would be too early given that establishments aren’t yet able to operate at full capacity. He suggested the tax be implemented no earlier than July 1 and no later than Jan. 1, 2022.
Commissioner Gary Persinger said he supported the Jan. 1 effective date, and suggested the town follow the state’s practice of exempting permanent residents of a hotel or motel. He questioned whether the party responsible for paying the tax should be noted as the operator, not owner, of the rental property.