Politics & Government

Push Continues For Harford Hotel Tax Despite Failed Bill

A bill in the Maryland legislature that would have allowed Harford County to impose a hotel tax failed last week, but supporters are already planning to try again next year.

Last week marked the end—at least for now—of a proposed bill in the Maryland legislature that would have allowed Harford County to collect taxes on hotel room bookings in the county.

Harford is currently the only county in Maryland without a lodging tax.

Del. Mary-Dulaney James, a Democrat representing Harford and Cecil counties who sponsored the hotel tax bill, said she plans to introduce similar legislation again next year.

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"It has bipartisan and near-complete support back home and there is no reason for it not to pass." James said Thursday, referring to residents and those outside the delegation. "My sense is that people are more afraid of the right wing than the right thing to do."

Harford Tourism Manager Wini Roche also expressed disappointment at this year's verdict on the bill.

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"I think it’s lost opportunities year after year," Roche said of continuing without the tax.

Harford County taxpayers are currently funding tourism marketing while other jurisdictions have visitors pay for it through a lodging tax, Roche said.

Aberdeen Mayor Michael Bennett, who also supported the bill, estimated the county would receive at least $3 million annually if it had passed.

Del. Wayne Norman, a Republican representing northern Harford County, said he came under fire from some constituents last week after the bill was sent back to committee having never made it to the House floor.

"I’m getting a lot of emails asking why I killed the bill, and I didn't kill this bill," Norman said.

Norman said he had several questions about the bill regarding amendments—which added eight pages to the bill—and how the proposed tax amount of 6 percent was determined.

"I asked some questions and as soon as I did that, it went back to committee," Norman said.

"I would have been remiss if I hadn’t asked questions about it," Norman said.

James said she believes the legislation was intentionally thwarted by her fellow Harford County delegates.

"I am disappointed that I can’t get bipartisan support except for Del. [Glen] Glass," James said. "My colleagues knew about this bill for three years, they knew about it this year, and they didn’t want to support and I think they were wrong."

Despite this year's outcome, James said she plans to continue a push for a lodging tax in Harford County.

“I think we keep working because everyone down here supports it and everyone back home supports it, and I think if we could just get the delegates to support it, we would have no problem getting this bill passed," James said.

In the meantime, "we’re going to continue to do everything we can to further the tourism industry," Roche said of Harford County. “We just have to keep going and keep doing what we think is in the best interest of the [tourism] industry."


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