The City of Yuma once again is asking voters to approve a lodging tax
Area communities such as Wray, Holyoke and Burlington have had a lodging tax in place for years. However, Yuma voters have rejected a lodging tax question at least twice in the past decade.
The current proposal is a 5.5 percent tax on the price paid for the leasing or rental of any lodging services. That includes hotel rooms, motel rooms, lodging houses, bed and breakfasts, recreational vehicle pad or other similar accommodations.
The ballot question asks for the city’s tax revenue increase by $200,000 in the first fiscal year, and by whatever additional amounts are raised annually in each subsequent year. The funds would be used for general governmental purposes.
The City of Wray has had a lodging tax since 2010, when the Wray City Council implemented it via ordinance. Wray’s lodging tax is 5 percent, and is for any place with less than 30-day occupancy.
The tax generates on average $45,000 to $50,000 annually, according to the City of Wray.
Burlington has a 4-percent lodging tax. It generated $250,000 in 2023, according to the city. It is for hotel and motel rooms. Burlington has had a lodging tax since 1988, and voters approved increasing it from 2-percent in 2006.
The City of Holyoke had to try twice to get a lodging tax approved by the voters, according to city administration. It finally was approved in November 2016 when the city earmarked the revenue for the Recreation Department. It has a five-year sunset, so the city put it before the voters again in 2020, which the voters approved to extend it until 2026.
Holyoke’s lodging tax is 2.5 percent. It generated $28,700 in 2022 and $26,000 in 2023, according to city records.
The Yuma County Clerk’s Office began mailing out ballots to registered voters last Friday. They need to be returned by 7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 5. One can mail them back, or can utilize the drop-off box located at the NJC Satellite Campus.