ATLANTA – State Representative Matt Gurtler (R-Tiger) recently introduced House Bill 364, legislation that would repeal the $5 per night hotel/motel tax which was established by HB 170 and passed during the 2015 legislative session.
“Georgia is the only state in the Union that imposes a statewide tax of this kind,” said Rep. Gurtler. “As a limited government conservative, I want taxes to be as low and as fair as possible. The $5 hotel/motel tax fails on both fronts. Not only was it part of the largest tax increase in Georgia history, but it’s also inherently unfair and disproportionality affects smaller hotels and motels in border counties that have to compete with cheaper alternatives in neighboring states. Georgia’s hotels and motels are some of the most heavily taxed in the nation with the top four cites nationally for total tax on hotels and motels located in Georgia: Columbus with 22.9 percent, Macon with 22.7 percent, Augusta with 20.27 percent and Atlanta with 19.9 percent. For those reasons and in an effort to safeguard the free-market, I hope we can eliminate this unfair tax on prosperity.”
Several other House members have signed on to Rep. Gurtler’s legislation, including Reps. John Pezold (R-Columbus), Kevin Cooke (R-Carrollton), Michael Caldwell (R-Woodstock), Jason Ridley (R-Chatsworth), Emory Dunahoo (R-Gainesville), Steve Tarvin (R-Chickamauga), Sheri Gilligan (R-Cumming), Scot Turner (R-Holly Springs), Josh Bonner (R-Peachtree City), Regina Quick (R-Athens), David Stover (R-Newnan) and Wes Cantrell (R-Woodstock).
For more information on HB 364, please click here.
Representative Matt Gurtler represents the citizens of District 8, which includes portions of Rabun, Towns, Union and White counties. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2016, and currently serves on the Agriculture & Consumer Affairs, Interstate Cooperation and Small Business Development committees.
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