DeKalb seeks increase in hotel/motel tax

The DeKalb County Commission recently agreed to ask the General Assembly for permission to increase the county’s hotel/motel tax.

The county’s sales tax on hotel rooms is now at 5 percent. The increase would raise the rate to 8 percent, with 3.5 percent of the total going to the DeKalb Convention and Visitors Bureau and the rest to the county for promoting tourism.

The increase would bring DeKalb from the lowest rate in the metro to one of the largest. Atlanta as well as Cobb and Gwinnett counties charge a 7 percent tax.