The City of Grand Junction believes increasing lodging tax and short-term rental taxes will increase affordable housing in Mesa County — but there’s a few who believe otherwise.
Our Khira Isaacs spoke with two business owners who believe the tax increase will do the opposite and worry the measures will hurt tourism and the local economy.
“I’ve owned the property here…it was built in a 2018 and it’s been a short-term rental for 6 months,” says Tom LeValley, a short-term rental property owner.
The City of Grand Junction just proposed two measures for November’s ballot intended to combat the affordable housing crisis. The measure hikes the lodging tax 1% and the short-term rental tax to 8%.
“We already pay the basic lodging tax just like the hotels do,” continues LeValley.
Tom believes city council’s measures are short-sighted and will do little to improve the housing issue in Mesa County.
See the full article by Khira Isaacs, October 12, 2022