Chenango County's occupancy tax, dubbed the “bed tax,” has generated revenues that have been higher than expected, leading the county and Commerce Chenango to bolster local tourism and promotion efforts. (Photo by Shawn Magrath)

CHENANGO COUNTY – Three years after imposing an added tax on hotel rooms across Chenango County, local officials are seeing higher earnings than expected.

Members of the Chenango County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution in 2020 requesting that New York State approve home rule legislation to enact an occupancy tax, dubbed the “bed tax,” which mandates a fee of up to 4 percent on hotel, motel, and bed and breakfast rooms county-wide.

Bed tax revenue is used to promote tourism and events within Chenango County. In doing so, policymakers say it relieves the onus of tourism and promotion costs on real property taxpayers.