‘Only pay if you stay’

Sequoyah County Commissioners are considering a resolution to adopt a 4% lodging tax if voter approved, additional funds which could be applied to roadside beautification initiatives and education, as well as support marketing and tourism growth for the county.

The topic was discussed during Monday‚s weekly meeting of the board of commissioners after a group of proponents and advisors, including Kenyatta Wright, executive director of the Greater Tenkiller Area Association, attended the meeting. Wright was accompanied by Cherokee County Director of Tourism Gena McPhail and Genny Maiden, who owns a bed and breakfast in Cookson and also serves on the Tahlequah Chamber of Commerce and chairs Tahlequah‚s tourism council, which is part of the chamber.

All three spoke about how a lodging tax could provide revenue which could be beneficial for Sequoyah County.

“It‚s a great opportunity, and the best thing about it is the people of Sequoyah County do not pay for this, the tourists do,” Maiden told the commissioners.

Maiden said once revenues are collected, the county could hire a tourism agent to oversee programming and spending. The agent could also serve under the umbrella of a tourism council, which could be chosen to represent the commissioners, hotels and other businesses in Sequoyah County.

McPhail provided a detailed outline about how a lodging tax, which was passed last year by voters in Cherokee County, has been beneficial to Cherokee County‚s marketing and tourism growth.

Maiden said in its first year, the county collected $181,000. So far in the first three months of the current fiscal year, which ends June 30, 2023, the Cherokee County has collected $60,000 in lodging tax.

According to information provided to the commissioners, tourists who travel to or through Sequoyah County and pay for lodging would pay an additional 4% lodging tax. Lodging tax can be collected from sleeping accommodations, including but not limited to hotels, motels, yurt, shortterm overnight rentals, resorts, cabins and bed and breakfast establishments.

The lodging tax is levied for guests who pay for overnight accommodations in the county, and does not apply to Sequoyah County residents unless they choose to pay for staying in a privatelyowned home, cabin or other accommodations in the county. Maiden said in Branson, tourists pay an additional 13% for lodging tax.

According to Airbnb, a website which provides a list of “premium rentals” from certified ownersboutique hotels, homes, apartments, rooms and more, Sallisaw has 192 Airbnb rentals. Gore has 79, and Roland has 117. The homes, apartments, cabins or villas have daily rates from $52 to more than $200. Tourists who choose to visit or vacation in Sequoyah County for sleeping accommodations would pay an additional 4% tax for lodging, if the measure is approved.

According to McPhail, the tax would not apply to those “who sleep in their own RVs, tents or on their own mattress,” she said. “Our slogan is ’Only pay if you stay.‚ If you bring your own bed, you don‚t pay. If you rent a bed, you do,” she said.

McPhail said from the total revenues collected in Cherokee County, 25% of the total tax revenues collected go toward roadside beautification initiatives, picking up roadside trash and litter removal, as well as administration and enforcement of tax. The other 75% goes to the Tahlequah Area Tourism Council, which is spent on state and local TV spots, national and state print advertising, state and local radio and social media campaigns.

“I would like to see the resolution approved and get the vote of the people on adopting a lodging tax for our county,” Wright said. “I‚ve seen the benefits first hand in other counties. We have tourism here with Lake Tenkiller and museums, and with Airbnb, Sequoyah County should benefit from the taxes collected.”

“I think the best thing about this is the tax does not apply to Sequoyah County voters. It‚s the tourists who would be paying the tax,” said District 3 Commissioner Jim Rogers.

“The presentation they presented [at the meeting] sounded pretty promising. I think it‚s a win-win for us. All the businesses around will get advertising, and the only ones who will pay the tax are visitors to the county.

“It‚s a no-brainer, really,” Rogers said. “The business it will bring to the county, everyone should benefit from it. It‚s a win-win.

“The biggest issue is just making sure everyone knows it‚s not a local tax, it‚s paid for by those who visit the county.”

The commissioners will forward the information for approval from the Sequoyah County District Attorney‚s office before they can get a resolution drafted and approved. Rogers said he doesn‚t expect any major obstacles, because the same DA‚s office oversees Sequoyah County as well as Cherokee County, which has already received approval from the DA‚s office.

Rogers said the only hurdle is being able to piggyback on a ballot for an election that‚s already scheduled, including any special elections.

The measure may not be ready for the general election in November if it meets approval, but could be cause for a special election, Wright said.

“We‚re just here to help,” McPhail said. “It‚s been extremely advantageous for Cherokee County. I believe Sequoyah County is beautiful, and a lodging tax could help keep it that way and also would be a great way to market the county.”