NEWBURGH – The City of Newburgh will now be able to charge a hotel/motel room tax of up to five percent now that Governor Kathy Hochul has signed the measure into law.
The city has only one motel; however, the proliferation of short-term rentals like Airbnb’s has opened the door for the city to gain a new revenue stream.
“This is an excellent opportunity for the City of Newburgh to raise revenue which in nearly all cases will not be paid by a city resident,” said Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson (D, Newburgh), who sponsored the bill in his house.
“Newburgh has become a magnet for visitors, especially weekends from the city. By allowing Newburgh to levy a modest tax on overnight guests, the community can better cover the expenses associated with this tourism that are currently being absorbed by overburdened local taxpayers,” said Senator James Skoufis (D, Cornwall), who sponsored it in the upper house.
The two lawmakers passed similar legislation for the Town of Newburgh in 2020.
