WOODBURY – Governor Cuomo
has signed legislation authorizing the Town of Woodbury to establish a
hotel occupancy tax of up to five percent of a room’s cost. The
bill was sponsored in the Assembly by James Skoufis (D, Woodbury).
“This new hotel fee will require overnight visitors – primarily
to Woodbury Common to pay their fair share as well as reduce the town’s
reliance on local property taxes.”
The town sought approval of the measure for the last 15 years.
In 2015 when both houses of the legislature approved the bill, the governor
vetoed it. Skoufis said he moved to force the measure through the state
budget until Cuomo “conceded to sign the bill post-budget.”
Woodbury Councilman Frank Palermo said the new room tax “will raise
a significant amount of revenue for the town’s operations that would
otherwise have to be paid for through property taxes.”
The law takes effect once the Woodbury Town Board adopts a local law establishing
the fee. It will not apply to long-term residents who occupy a room for
more than 90 days.
