Edmond City Leaders Asking Residents To Approve Lodging Tax Increase

The City of Edmond is asking voters to approve an increase in the taxes visitors pay for hotels and vacation rentals.

City leaders said if approved, the extra money brought in from the tax could greatly benefit residents.

In the 30 years this lodging tax has been around, Tuesday marks the first time Edmond has asked for it to be increased, and it is a tax that citizens would not pay unless staying in a hotel overnight.

Edmond’s tourism director, Jennifer Thornton, said Edmond has one of the lowest rates in the Oklahoma City metro at 4%, while Norman sits at 8%, Guthrie at 7% and Oklahoma city at 5.5%.

Thornton said raising the tax by 2 percent will generate an extra half a million dollars a year to attract more visitors to Edmond and fund amenities or upgrades for citizens to enjoy as well.

"We think it really helps the quality of life in Edmond," Thornton said. "It also increases sales tax, and those sales tax dollars help with our roads, amenities, and quality of life."

Under the new tax, if a room at a hotel costs 100 dollars, the sales tax charge would increase from $4, to $6.