The Garrett County commissioners voted unanimously during their public meeting on Tuesday afternoon to raise the hotel rental (accommodations) tax from 5 percent to 6 percent. Also during the three-hour session, the commissioners discussed raising solid waste collection fees, awarded a bridge construction bid, adopted a new county recreation plan, and met with Friends of Deep Creek Lake.
The Maryland General Assembly and governor recently granted the commissioners the authority to increase the local accommodations tax up to 6 percent. It was last raised in 2005. The new rate goes into effect on July 1.
The Garrett County Department of Financial Services notified local businesses in an e-mail on May 9 that the commissioners planned to raise the accommodations tax.
"The county realizes that the procedure of hotel rental tax reporting to the county to reflect the increase in the tax rate would be a hardship on those of you who execute contracts with their rental customers well in advance of the customer's stay," Director Wendy Yoder's memo stated. "Therefore, the county has agreed to amend the reporting procedure in order to ease the burden on you."
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Contracts and confirmed reservations made prior to the notification memo will be honored at the 5 percent tax rate, even if arrivals are after July 1. Reservations made after May 9 will be calculated at the new 6 percent for arrivals after July 1.
Personnel from a local vacation rental agency noted at Tuesday's meeting the bookkeeping difficulties involved in calculating the new/old rates and arrival dates. Commissioner Jim Raley indicated the county would work with businesses during the transition period.
Also on Tuesday, the commissioners discussed raising trash collection fees. Garrett County Department of Solid Waste and Recycling manager Dave Baker suggested raising the landfill tipping fees for household/municipalities from $35 to $45 a ton, and for construction debris from $40 to $45 a ton. He also proposed increasing the collection site vehicle sticker fee from $25 to $50.
Baker noted that rates in nearby counties are much higher than Garrett County's current ones. For example, Allegany County has a $78 annual permit fee. Its tipping fees are $45.40 per ton for household and $57.54 per ton for construction waste.
The manager indicated the increased fees would be more in line with the actual cost of operating the landfill and collection sites.
Raley said the commissioners would take Baker's proposals under advisement.
Gary Love, Solid Waste and Recycling, presented an amendment to the county's 10-year landfill plan for thei commissioners' consideration. Described by Love as a "minor modification," the amendment includes the county's proposed Cell 5. The commissioners unanimously approved the amendment.
Love noted that Cell 4 would be completed at the landfill later this year.
In addition, the commissioners unanimously approved the 2012 Land Preservation Parks and Recreation Plan for Garrett County.
Director John Nelson, Garrett County Department of Planning and Land Development, noted the state requires plans to be updated every six years in order for entities to be eligible for Program Open Space funding. He said the county's new plan includes a recreational trails component.
Also during their Tuesday meeting, the commissioners approved Carl Belt Inc.'s bid of $1,291,18 to construct the new Corona Bayard Road bridge, located on the border of Maryland and West Virginia. According to local purchasing agent Brian Bowers, the project is being funded primarily by the federal bridge fund (80 percent), with the West Virginia Department of Transportation and Garrett County splitting the remainder of the cost.
The commissioners also met with Friends of Deep Creek Lake, a nonprofit community group dedicated to the watershed's protection, preservation, and restoration. Group members stressed the importance of the commissioners taking a larger role in protecting the lake and adopting a "broader watershed" view in resolving sediment issues.
Lake property owners noted the current sediment study being conducted by the Department of Natural Resources has "missing components," including the lack of information about runoff from farms, road culverts, and parking lots.
Friends of DCL executive director Barbara Beelar indicated her group wanted to partner with the commissioners to resolve issues.
The commissioners' next public meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 5, at 9 a.m. in their meeting room at the courthouse.
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