SUSSEX COUNTY, Del.- On November 12, 2019 the Sussex County Council adopted an ordinance for an accommodations or lodging tax of three percent on hotels, motels, or tourist homes.
On April 28, 2020, the council suspended the tax due to the State of Emergency declared by Governor John Carney.
On May 25 of this year, the council brought up reinstating the tax knowing that a lift of the state of emergency would come soon. It was lifted on July 13, but before that on June 21, Sussex County Council Vice President John Rieley says a letter was sent out to business owners.
"Our director of finance drafted a letter and sent it out to all of the properties subject to the tax to give them a heads up that it was being reinstituted," Rieley said. "So it wasn't going to the entire public, but it went to those that would be subject to the tax."
Despite these events, Councilman Mark Schaeffer who was elected to the council in 2020 says the tax came back out of the dark.
"I believe in full transparency, full disclosure and whether it must go to a formal vote, it should go to a formal vote," Schaeffer said. "Taxpayers should be made aware in advance that taxes are going to increase."
However, since this was an existing ordinance, it did not need to go to a vote and Schaeffer can file an ordinance to repeal.
Canalside Inn Owner Bryan Deptula thinks the tax is worth paying.
"Whenever you bring tourism to a community, there are associated costs and the taxes help support the infrastructure which allow those places to maintain high levels of quality, become safe or stay safe," Deptula said.
Both Schaffer and Rieley said that this item will be brought up at the next council meeting which is on November 9. Schaeffer did not say whether or not he would consider presenting an ordinance to repeal the tax completely.
