GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Kent County voters said yes to an increase in hotel tax through the Sports and Entertainment Facilities proposal.
The hotel tax in Kent County will increase from 5% to 8% starting Jan. 1, 2025, for visitors to the area. That would look like a $3.72 increase on a hotel room that’s $120 a night.
Residents won't see the tax unless they spend the night at a Kent County hotel or motel.
Proceeds from this new crop of tax revenue will help pay for new attractions like the Acrisure Amphitheatre, a soccer stadium and a possible aquarium.
The option to put this to voters was made available through legislation signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in April.
The Kent County Board of Commissioners gave the ballot proposal the go-ahead to appear on the August primary ballot. Many leaders, including outgoing Mayor Rosalynn Bliss, have been supportive of the proposal.
"We have to execute the lodging proposal to raise the hotel-motel tax," Joshua Lunger, who serves as the Vice President of Government Affairs for the Grand Rapids Chamber, said previously. "That is a key public financing component of these big projects and other things in the future."
Andy Johnston, with the Grand Rapids Chamber, said the increase would put the region on par with its peer cities like Cincinnati, Cleveland and Nashville.
Three county commissioners expressed concerns with the proposal at their May 2 meeting and voted against putting it on the August ballot.