Brooke Commission approached for bed and breakfast tax
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WELLSBURG -- The Brooke County Commission was asked during its meeting Tuesday to draft an ordinance supporting the collection of a tax from those who stay at air bed and breakfasts.
Rachel Keeney, the new executive director of the Top of West Virginia Convention and Visitors Bureau, told the commissioners such a step is needed so the CVB and county can benefit from revenue generated by the booking of local bed and breakfasts through online services such as Airbnb.
The founders of Airbnb helped to popularize the term, which has nothing to do with airfare but was inspired by their idea of renting a room with an air mattress to temporary guests.
In 2018, the company reported West Virginia bed and breakfasts generated $10 million in revenue through tens of thousands of guests booked through them online.
Keeney noted state lawmakers this year approved legislation allowing the hotel occupancy tax to be collected by Airbnb and similar services on behalf of the West Virginia bed and breakfasts they serve.
It also applies to independent hotel booking services such as Expedia.
The tax amounts to 6 percent of the listing price, including cleaning and other fees, paid by guests.
The legislation also allows such booking services to collect 1 percent municipal sales taxes for providers of lodging in cities with such a tax.
Officials with Airbnb reported the arrangement is one of hundreds the online service has with government entities in the U.S.
Keeney told the commissioners there are about 20 bed and breakfasts in Brooke County, but air bed and breakfasts are a growing trend.
She confirmed revenue from the hotel occupancy tax is a major source of funding for the convention and visitors bureau, which promotes local communities as a destination for recreation, business meetings and other gatherings.
Commission President A.J. Thomas said most hotels in the county are located in municipalities, primarily Weirton, so the county doesn't receive the hotel tax from them, and the same may be true for bed and breakfasts.
County Commissioner Tim Ennis said collection of the tax from those in unincorporated areas seemed negligible.
In other business, the commissioners:
● Learned the West Virginia Secretary of State's Office will provide $1,935 in federal Help America Vote Act funds to the county's election office for three printers and a scanner to be used for voter registration.
● Approved a $1,400 yearly maintenance agreement for the county courthouse's phone system with Advanced Communications Co. of Wheeling.
● Agreed to open county offices for half a day only on Dec. 23 and 30 while providing holiday pay, or time and a half, to hourly staff who work on those days.
The move follows Gov. Jim Justice's order for state offices to be open for a half-day on those dates.
State and county offices also will be closed on Dec. 24 and 31.
● The commission received letters of interest in reappointment to the Brooke Hills Park Board and following its past policy, agreed to accept letters of interest from others in the volunteer seats for two weeks.
The panel continues to seek someone to fill one seat on the county museum board and five individuals to serve on the newly formed county ambulance authority, which will oversee operation of the county's ambulance service.
County Clerk Kim Barbetta stressed anyone wanting to serve on the volunteer boards should express their interest in writing. The letters should be sent to her office at the county courthouse for the commission's consideration.