BLOOMINGTON, IL and ALBANY, NY— A 6% hotel/motel tax was instituted in Bloomington, IL, and the same is proposed for Albany. The 6% hotel tax was unanimously approved by the city council in Bloomington along with a food-and-beverage tax of 2%, according to a report in Pantagraph. The tax, instituted to close a potential budget gap, is above the original proposal of 5.5%. Simultaneously, hotel owners and operators in Albany are protesting to the legislature about similar proposed tax hike in Albany County, which would double the hotel tax from 3% to 6% next year, reports Albany’s Times Union. Hoteliers say the tax, which was proposed by County Executive Michael Breslin to prevent a budget gap, will make Albany less attractive to conventions and group visitors.
