KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — After a strong push by an area legislator, a bill has been passed allowing Kalamazoo County to place a hotel tax with money potentially going toward a new arena.
House Bill 4816, known as the Regional Event Center Financing Act, was passed on Thursday, January 16th by the Michigan State Legislature.
The new law gives the Kalamazoo County Commission the ability to levy a hotel and lodging tax on occupied rooms up to 4% the paid value. Current rules already allow big cities to institute hotel taxes, but this new legislation opens up the practice to smaller municipalities.
Republican State Rep. Brandt Iden, who represents Oshtemo Township, says he hopes the funding raked in from the tax could contribute to the construction of a new arena in the Kalamazoo area.
Iden saying in a statement that, “Some other counties in Michigan already have tools available to fund the centers needed to host these events. This legislation simply gives municipalities the same opportunity for development that other communities in Michigan already have.”
