Rooms to grow
Butler's hotel tax will be a useful, painless tool

Editorial
Copyright 2001 P.G. Publishing Co.
Article date: November 14, 2001
 

It's one of the easiest taxes to impose, politically, but its potential revenue is not to be ignored. A hotel-motel tax, like the one likely to be passed today by the Butler County commissioners, rarely stirs up constituents because it's paid mostly by people outside the county. Who can hate a local tax that someone else has to pay? That's why so many localities have already taken advantage of state legislation last year that, for the first time, allowed all counties in Pennsylvania to levy a "bed" or hotel-motel tax to promote tourism. The plan by the Butler County commissioners would impose the maximum allowable tax rate of 3 percent on hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, and camp site rentals.

For the commissioners, a yes vote is a no-brainer.

Though precise estimates are hard to come by, two of the commissioners think Butler County could realize $300,000 to $350,000 a year from the tax. And with the levy nicking the customer in a $60 room for only an extra $1.80, no one expects it to harm the county's lodging industry. By comparison, Allegheny County has a 7 percent hotel-motel tax.

If anything, the revenue could put more "heads in beds" in Butler County by stirring outside interest in various attractions. There's history and antique hunting in Harmony and Zelienople. There's boating and fishing at Moraine State Park. There's an effort to restore Pullman Park, which was a storied minor-league ballpark between the ' 30s and ' 50s. And there's a move to resurrect and mark the trail used by Maj. George Washington in 1753.

All of these focal points could receive support from the tax and their success could, in turn, generate greater tourism.

Nearby counties are already collecting a room tax -- 2 percent in Mercer County, 3 percent in Armstrong and Washington counties. With Clarion and Lawrence counties also considering the move, Butler County would look conspicuous in its absence if it declined to adopt this relatively painless revenue stream.

But the commissioners are poised to do the right thing -- and vote yes for the motel tax.
 

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