LEWES, DE -- City leaders in Lewes are debating enacting multiple accommodations taxes within the city.
The first proposal would enact a 2% lodging tax within the city. Rick Quill, who owns the Blue Water House, said he's against the proposal. Quill said he does not want to charge his guests more to accommodate the tax.
"I've kept my prices the same for the last couple of years because I don't wanna lose my guest base," Quill said. "I don't wanna add any more expenses onto them."
Quill told WBOC that higher prices could drive guests away from hotels in the area.
"Prices for everything have gone up in the last couple of years," Quill said. "People say it's only 2%, but things add up. I'm opposed to it and I don't think it's fair."
Jesse Burns, the marketing director at the Inn at Canal Square in Lewes, said he believes the proposed 2% tax would be difficult to handle on top of Delaware's 8% lodging tax.
"Families are spending a very large amount of money on their vacations," Burns said. "Once we become over the threshold of where they can afford, they're gonna go look for somewhere else."
Burns said the potential loss of tourists wouldn't just hurt hotels in the area.
"We're going to lose those people to go in our shops, and spend money in our restaurants," Burn said. "All of those things are extremely important."
Another proposal on the table would charge short-term rental properties a 5.5% accommodations tax, and long-term rental properties a 5% lodging tax.
City leaders said both proposals look to make contributions to city funds more equal, and they would allow visitors to pitch in. If passed, city officials said the funds generated would go towards city projects, such as a resiliency fund.
The proposed ordinances will be discussed at a public hearing on Monday, April 7th. City leaders said, that if passed, they would take effect on rentals booked after January 1st, 2026.