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S 6834

Authorizes an occupancy tax in the city of Oneonta

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Peter Oberacker

Authorizes the City of Oneonta to impose an occupancy tax on lodging for visitors; rate/exemptions set by local law, with operators collecting and remitting the tax.

REFERRED TO WAYS AND MEANS
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Bill Summary · S 6834

Summary of Senate Bill S 6834 (Print Number 6834A)

Overview

  • Bill number and title: S 6834 — Authorizes an occupancy tax in the city of Oneonta
  • Current status: Print Number 6834A (amended version)
  • Introduced: March 25, 2025
  • Sponsor: Senator Peter Oberacker (primary)
  • Related bill: A 7960 (companion measure in the Assembly)
  • Committee action so far: Referred to the Senate committee on Investigations and Government Operations on March 25, 2025; amendments and reprint to 6834A on April 2, 2025

What the bill would do

  • The bill authorizes the City of Oneonta to enact an occupancy tax on lodging or accommodations provided to transient occupants (i.e., visitors staying temporarily in the city).
  • The exact rate, applicable lodging types, exemptions, and other operational details are not specified in the information provided. These elements are typically established in a local law enacted by the city consistent with the authorization granted by the bill.

Key provisions and changes (as typically included in occupancy tax legislation)

  • Authority for local imposition: The city would have the legal authority to impose an occupancy tax on charges for lodging to transient occupants.
  • Tax base and rate: Details such as the tax rate (percent), what constitutes taxable lodging, and any exemptions or caps would be determined by local law adopted by the city.
  • Collection and remittance: Operators of lodging facilities (hotels, motels, bed-and-breakfasts, and potentially short-term rentals) would collect the tax from guests and remit it to the city according to a defined schedule and reporting requirements.
  • Use of revenue: The bill would empower the city to use the generated revenue as determined by local law; common stated purposes in similar measures include funding for tourism promotion, infrastructure, or general city services, though specific allocations would depend on the enacted local law.
  • Administration and enforcement: The local law would outline administration, record-keeping, audits, penalties for noncompliance, and enforcement mechanisms.

Who would be affected

  • Hotel, motel, and lodging operators within the City of Oneonta (and potentially other short-term lodging providers) would be responsible for collecting and remitting the occupancy tax.
  • Visitors and transient occupants would experience an additional lodging charge included in their total bill.
  • City government would receive new revenue subject to local use and program priorities once the local law is enacted.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduced and referred to Committee: March 25, 2025 (Investigations and Government Operations)
  • Amendments and reprint: April 2, 2025 (6800s-series amendments leading to 6834A)
  • Next steps (pending action): If advanced, the bill would move through committee and, pending passage, to floor consideration. The companion Assembly bill (A 7960) indicates parallel consideration in the Assembly.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Fiscal impact: New local revenue for the city, contingent on the adopted rate and coverage; potential effect on tourism and lodging demand depending on the final rate and exemptions.
  • Administrative burden: Lodging operators would need to implement tax collection and reporting procedures consistent with the local law.
  • Policy considerations: Debates commonly focus on the appropriate rate, the balance of exemptions (e.g., government rates, long-term stays, or specific events), and how the revenue should be allocated (tourism promotion, public services, infrastructure).

Note: Specifics such as the tax rate, eligible lodging types, exemptions, and use of proceeds are not included in the provided materials and would be defined in the local law enacted by the City of Oneonta if the bill becomes law.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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