Chillicothe’s Hotel/Motel Guest Tax now has more teeth to help with enforcement of the existing ordinance. The Chillicothe City Council on Monday passed an ordinance that City Administrator Darin Chappell says it doesn’t change the tax in any way.
Chappell says the current ordinance required collecting a 4% tax on the bill for guests that stay at the Hotels and Motels in the city. The tax currently brings in about $130,000 a year that is used to help pay the Greater Chillicothe Visitor’s Region for promoting the city.
Under the new ordinance, if a Motel or Hotel does not turn over the collected tax to the city on a quarterly basis, the will be fined 10% the first month and an additional 2% each additional month until they are paid.
Chappell says it is not a major problem.
The ordinance was approved on a vote of 4/0.
