Legislature passes bill letting Colorado counties ask voters to triple lodging tax to 6%
By Robert Tann, The Summit Daily
A bipartisan bill to raise the lodging tax cap for Colorado counties cleared the statehouse and is on its way to Gov. Jared Polis’s desk.
Currently, counties cannot ask voters to approve more than a 2% lodging tax in unincorporated areas, while towns and cities can ask for as much as 6%. Under House Bill 1247, counties would be able to seek up to 6% and be given more latitude for how to spend that revenue.
Lawmakers say the measure is intended to help counties diversify their revenue streams, particularly in rural resort areas trying to fulfill a host of community needs like improving local roads and providing more affordable housing.
“Which is going to benefit both the people who live in the community and help power the tourism workforce,” said Sen. Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco, a lead bill sponsor, “but also ensure that visitors have a good experience when they come and will want to come back.”
