Tulsa City Councilors Engage in Discussion on Proposed Lodging Tax Increase
Tulsa City Councilors joined hotel and motel owners, tourism officials, and residents for a lively debate on the city's proposal to boost lodging taxes during a meeting on the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa campus on Monday.
The focus was on raising the city's guest tax from 5% to 9.25%. This increase would solely target hotels and also extend to short-term stays (less than 30 days). Stays longer than a month and property taxes would be exempt.
Proponents advocate for placing the tax hike proposal on the city's August ballot. Approximately 50 attendees filled the campus auditorium. While Councilors primarily listened, speakers expressed their views.
"We will continue to refine the proposal and offer additional public input later this year at city council meetings," said District 5 Councilor Karen Gilbert. She supports these town halls, which inform voters as the council pushes for a vote.
Renee McKenney, a senior tourism official for the Tulsa Regional Chamber, was joined by other supporters of the tax increase.
"It's crucial that we collaborate to determine what revenue we're leaving on the table," McKenney told The Flyer. "When we compare ourselves to other cities, relying on other people's money is an excellent way to ensure we maintain and enhance our city's assets, attract visitors, and keep their money in our city."
She noted that Tulsa hasn't updated its hotel and motel guest tax in four decades, making it time for a change.
By contrast, Oklahoma City has a 9.25% hotel/motel tax rate, Midwest City (an OKC suburb) has also increased its lodging tax to 9.25%, and Norman is seeking a 10% hike.
Keller Taylor, vice president of the BOK Center and Arvest Convention Center, stated that the revenue generated from the hotel tax would also support these venues, aiding Tulsa's competitiveness as a tourism destination.
"It's fantastic to see people coming to Tulsa, staying, and exploring our city," Taylor said. "It's evident that visitors enjoy what we have here."
McKenney explained that funds from guest tax increases are typically allocated to infrastructure investments, which she wants to see happen in Tulsa.
"We can reinvest these dollars back into our buildings, our community—it's where those funds come from, and we don't want to leave that on the table," she said.
The Mayor Monroe Nichols' office has previously expressed dissatisfaction with Councilors' reluctance to combine a sales tax increase with the hotel/motel hike on the August ballot. However, McKenney assured that they've been in touch with the mayor's office about the proposal.
"We're constantly in communication with the mayor," McKenney noted. "Everyone is on board."
News decisions at The Tulsa Flyer are independent of our board members and financial supporters.