Greater Long Island coverage is funded in part by Toresco & Simonelli, a boutique injury and family law firm in West Islip. They fight for their clients. Click here to learn more and to get in touch.
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine is throwing his full support behind a measure that would waive the county’s hotel and motel tax for locals.
“Suffolk residents should enjoy staycations without paying this tax,” he told Greater Long Island.
The next step, he said, would be to get state legislation on the books to authorize the change, so the Suffolk County Legislature could act.
Romaine’s comments come in response to Greater Long Island’s call last week to waive the occupancy taxes in both Nassau and Suffolk County for each county’s respective residents.
The column contends that the price of coastal hotels in places like Long Beach, Greenport and Montauk, to name a few, have become out of reach for many local residents. And the hefty tax bills make things worse. Long Islanders often find it’s cheaper to fly or drive hours elsewhere, rather than enjoy their own beachfront hotels.
“This is our Island. We pay into it. We care for it,” the column reads. “And we need a vacation, one that shouldn’t have to involve bridges or airports.”
The Suffolk County Legislature last year raised the tax from 3 percent to 5.5 percent per diem rental rate for each room after Governor Kathy Hochul signed a law allowing for the hike. The state also expanded potential uses for the revenues, much of which goes to promoting tourism to the region.
Romaine on Friday huddled with his budget staff to see about waiving the tax for residents, after saying “this is a great idea that I support.” He then contacted Greater Long Island again on Saturday.
“Local residents should not have to pay this tax if they stay local,” he said. “It is just one of my initiatives to make Suffolk more affordable.”
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman could not be reached for comment after several email attempts through a county spokesman.
Top: Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (Facebook)
