Emporia residents’ pocketbooks will not be affected by a recently approved tax increase, however, the community will ultimately reap the benefits.
Wednesday, Emporia City Commissioners approved a minor increase to the city’s transient guest tax rate from seven to eight percent. According to Visit Emporia Director Lelan Dains, the increase comes at a time when the city is seeing record TGT collections and is on track to end the year with more than $800,000 in collections for fiscal 2023.
While minor, Dains says it is likely the increase could lead to an even larger uptick in annual collections.
With that in mind, Dains says it is a great possibility for the city, but one that still requires caution given the ever-rising inflation.
TGT dollars are used to fund a variety of tourism-related expenses each year, including a new Disc Golf Superintendent position approved by Emporia City Commissioners back in August. Given that the tax is only paid by visitors to the city and not its residents, Dains says the increase is a minor move with a tremendous upside for the community.
The one percent increase will likely mean a one-dollar increase for short-term lodgings in Emporia, an increase Dains believes will be almost unnoticeable.
