KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – A few deadbeat hotels in Kalamazoo have been getting away without paying all their taxes but ordinance changes will soon take effect to force them to pay.
Like most larger Michigan towns, Kalamazoo assesses an accommodation tax, a percentage of each hotel bill that can only be used to promote tourism.
Jane Ghosh at Discover Kalamazoo says they rely on that funding, and some local hotels have been pocketing the money,
This week the county board amended the tax ordinance to give County Treasurer Tom Whitner the authority to slap unpaid taxes & fines on tax bills and foreclose properties if they still don’t pay.
Whitner says until now all he could pursue was a civil misdemeanor.
Thrash at the Air Zoo and the Epic Center’s Dave Racowitz voiced support for the tough enforcement measures.
Two local hotels are currently $100,000 in arrears.
It’s an ironic problem, because the businesses that have the most to gain from paying the tax, and promoting tourism, are the very ones not paying it.
What is the harm in naming the deadbeat hotels?