City of Lewes Pushes Potential Lodging Tax Forward

LEWES, Del.- The city of Lewes is one step closer to adding a potential lodging tax. On Monday evening, the city voted to request a charter change. 

If you plan on staying in an hotel or motel in Lewes within the near future, it may become more expensive. The First Town in the First State is moving forward with a potential accommodations tax. This tax could be up to 3% on hotels and motels in Lewes. 

"We can't do anything without the General Assembly changing our charter. As a city, we are probably at least a year away from implementing such a tax. We first need to get the authority from the legislature," said Lewes City Manager Ann Marie Townshend. 

However, others worry this specific tax could make Lewes to expensive. 

"The people that want to visit Lewes by spending the weekend and or a couple of days on vacation, they are left at an marginal on being able to afford that kind of stay. This is something that might keep them away. As a town we might be favoring the more wealthier sector of our society for visiting downtown Lewes," said Richard Applebaum of Lewes.

If the city of Lewes implements the accommodation tax, they will not be the first in Sussex County. Earlier this year, Rehoboth Beach passed a 3% increase in their lodging tax. 

Townshend says if this tax is approved, it will help pay for town amenities.

"As a city we have beaches, streets and parks to maintain. We have a lot of assets to the community, and they all cost money to maintain," said Townshend. 

Applebaum said if the tax is implemented, he would prefer to a see a more equal tax.

There is already an 8% state lodging tax on all hotels in Delaware. If the Lewes lodging tax goes through, the tax would be in addition to that.

The city of Lewes must get state approval for that charter change, before anything else can happen. 

 

 

 

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