County Executive Odell Vetoes Proposed Hotel Tax
Exactly one week after a majority of the Putnam County Legislature approved a proposal to levy a four percent tax hotel occupancy tax, County Executive MaryEllen Odell vetoed the legislation on Tuesday, June 12.
In a reversal from the previous week when only two legislators, Dan Birmingham and Sam Oliverio voted “no” on the measure, six out eight county legislators present at a special meeting the following day on Wednesday, June 13 voted in favor of upholding the county executive’s veto, with legislators Mary Conklin and Dini LoBue voting to override the veto.
With Birmingham not present at the special meeting and Legislator Anthony DiCarlo not having cast a vote on the proposal the previous week, the votes to uphold the veto from legislators Carl Albano, Richard Othmer and Vincent Tamagna, who had previously voted to move forward with the four percent tax on hotels, meant the proposal will not move on to the New York State legislature for required consideration.
Odell provided the reasoning behind the veto in a letter sent to the county legislature.
“In a time when Putnam County government is emphasizing the importance of tourism…and the role it will play in future economic development projects such as a hotel, motel, or conference center, I do not agree that these potential sites will have an adverse effect or place an economic burden on our taxpayers,” the letter read. “In fact, I believe that these venues will stimulate the local economy and will have a positive impact on our sales tax revenues. It is also incumbent upon the developers themselves to make the necessary infrastructure improvements when a project is before the lead agency and that the local municipality designates.”
Odell said the veto was in line with her stated commitment not to levy new taxes on the people of Putnam County.
Echoing concerns that had been voiced by legislators Birmingham and Sam Oliverio, both of whom voted “no” on the proposal, and Othmer, all of whom said they had received correspondence from constituents who had concerns about the levying of a four percent hotel occupancy tax without further discussion and stipulations, Odell said her veto also was based on the same.
“In addition, this resolution comes before the county executive without any fiscal information, or support from the local town or village governments or our local chambers of commerce, who should have an opportunity to discuss this tax,” she wrote.
Having ardently argued against the hotel tax proposal, Birmingham said he was pleased with the outcome of the veto, according to a press release issued from the county executive’s office.
“[I am] heartened that the county executive vetoed this new tax. All too often government is too quick to raise taxes and too slow in cutting spending,” Birmingham said.
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.
