ALBANY, NY – As the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to push local governments deeper into unchartered territory, members of the Albany County Legislature are actively pursuing forward-thinking legislation that will offset revenue losses in the County budget.

Albany County Legislators Joseph O’Brien, David Mayo, Nathan Bruschi and Lynne Lekakis introduced a resolution Monday requesting the County Executive and County Attorney negotiate or enforce the collection of taxes due the County for the occupancy of rooms maintained by short-term rental services and online remarketers.

According to the resolution, Albany County is not currently collecting a Hotel Occupancy Tax from short-term rental services and online remarketers, such as Airbnb, which could provide additional revenue to the County as well as funding for tourism. The Legislation would also put these businesses on an equal playing field as hotels and motels which are currently paying the tax.

“As we enter into a new budget cycle, we are turning over every stone looking for any additional revenue sources for the County. I was taken aback when I heard that we were one of 32 counties in New York State that were not collecting taxes on short-term rentals and decided that the least we could do is look into it. If hotels and motels have to pay the taxes it is only fair that short-term rentals do the same.” O’Brien said.

“Multi-billion dollar technology companies such as Airbnb should play by the same rules as the local hotels on Central Avenue, and I believe they want to,” Bruschi stated. “What's more, we are at a moment where so many in our country are hurting from the federal government's disastrous response to COVID-19, and the way they have shamefully passed the buck all the way down to local governments. Passing legislation to collect Airbnb’s fair share of hotel tax will not only level the playing-field in business, it will help provide resources that Albany County can use to support all the important programs our residents need to get through this difficult year.”

“All rentals should be contributing to our tax base because they use our infrastructure and other services that the County provides,” Lekakis said.

The resolution is being referred to the Audit and Finance Committee for further review later this month.