KENT COUNTY, Mich. — A campaign to persuade Kent County voters to approve a hotel tax plan on the August 6th ballot is underway.
The Destination Kent Committee joined Kent County leaders on Monday to kick off the campaign at an event at Brewer Park in Byron Center.
The proposal would increase the lodging tax on hotel and motel stays. The proposed increase would bring the tax from 5% to 8% of the total cost of a lodging accommodation.
“The growth of our community is what will fund these projects,” said Kara Wood, executive director of Grand Action 2.0. “As we continue to make Kent County a destination, we will continue to see a rise in overnight guests, continuing to fund these great community owned assets.”
Organizers said that the Lodging Proposal would bring money into the community. Money that will be used to fund major projects like a proposed amphitheater, soccer stadium and a potential aquarium. They also said it will help support other projects the community benefits from.
"We're a growing County, and in a state that isn't necessarily in population growth," said Grand Action Board Member Johnny Brann Jr. "We're the growing County and growing part of the state in West Michigan. So this is why the way that we do things here and collaborate and find ways to solve these problems and create new assets and really that benefit the entire community and all the families that live here, that's why people keep coming. So I think it's important that we continue that moving forward."
Organizers said that the average cost of a daily room rate in Kent County was $123.82 last year. The proposed increase would increase that cost by less than $4 per night.
The Lodging Proposal will be on the August sixth ballot in Kent County.
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