The Clinton Township Board of Trustees agreed Monday night to move the implementation date of the township's lodging tax to Jan. 1.
The Clinton Township bed tax, which is to affect hotels, motels and bed and breakfasts that have more than six rooms, was passed Sept. 24. The original date of implementation for the tax was set to be Oct. 1.
John Fabrizio and Gina Russo of Hampton Inn spoke at the meeting Monday night, and voiced that they are strongly against the new tax.
Fabrizio said he was upset at how the board went about implementing the tax without consulting them. He also said he would deliberate annexing his business from Clinton Township if the board does not reconsider the bed tax.
Jim Distel, member of the board, said he did talk to several businesses that put people into the hotels in the township, and said that none of them objected to the tax.
Russo said the tax would negatively affect Hampton Inn because if their rates are not lower than those at competing hotels, then the hotel would lose business.
Distel said the board put in the tax because the township has lost several funds in recent years and needs to find new ways to bring in money. He said that he did not want to burden citizens of the township, and said he thought this tax would mostly affect travelers and people from out of town.
