The Roswell City Council has advanced a proposal to raise the local hotel/motel excise tax to 8 percent from 6 percent, a move that could generate an additional $350,000 a year for the city.
The council approved a resolution seeking approval from the Georgia General Assembly to increase the tax rate. The aim, according to a staff report to the council, is to generate funds to invest in city services, projects and tourism promotion while lessening the reliance on residential property taxes.
The resolution designates at least half of the additional revenues to go toward promoting tourism, conventions and trade shows, with the remainder funding “tourism product development,” such as signage, museums, parks, trails and the Visitors Center.
If the Legislature approves the increase, the city will have to revise its hotel/motel tax ordinance before the new tax rate can take effect, staff said.
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