A bill in the North Carolina General Assembly might lead to occupancy taxes being equalized between Graham County’s municipalities and the unincorporated area of the county.
Senate Bill 9 would levy a 3-percent occupancy tax on any hotels, motels or other lodging in the unincorporated portions of Graham County. In the bill, the area is known as Tax District G.
All three municipalities in the county already have a 6 percent occupancy tax, and the bill would create the same in the county, adding the 3 percent tax to an existing one at the same rate.
“It basically brings the county (occupancy) tax rate up to 6 percent,” said County Manager Becky Garland.
Garland also said the name Tax District G was given by the General Assembly for lack of another name for the area, and was not part of any alphabetical or other listing of tax districts in Graham County.
She also lauded State Sen, Kevin Corbin, R-Franklin, and State Rep. Keith Gillespie, R-Franklin, for their support of the occupancy tax and of other Graham County issues.
“We’re very thankful for Sen. Corbin – and now, Rep. Gillespie – for keeping this on the front burner,” Garland said.
According to the General Assembly webpage, the bill has passed the Senate on its first reading, and, has been referred to the Rules Committee.
“There’s a lot of Airbnb’s and VRBOs in the county, and Graham County isn’t getting any of it because they don’t have an occupancy tax,” Corbin said. “This will allow Graham County to collect an occupancy tax from basically everything that’s not a municipality.”