BARNSTABLE – The coming state legislative session will likely see the passing of a room occupancy tax on short-term rentals.
According to state senator Julian Cyr, there are indicators that it will get done and will greatly benefit his constituents. “This is going to be a major, significant boost in revenue for all the communities I represent. It’s probably the biggest expansion in state funds that we’ll see in quite some time, so we’re really eager to get that done.”
A state joint review panel has recommended broadening the hotel and motel tax so that it includes rentals from companies like Airbnb.
There is a $4 billion infrastructure need across the cape for sewering and wastewater treatment plants. Cyr says that the additional funds should be significant. “We’re currently looking at what is the level of surcharge that would be needed to come up with $20 million a year for the next 30 or 40 years.”
Customers of the cape’s 19,000 motel and B&B rooms already pay a rooms tax, but the large number of visitors who rent one of the 58,000 seasonal homes do not.
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