To the editor:

Regarding a letter written to this paper on April 13, I wholeheartedly agree with Mr. Weber that raising the Essex County “bed tax” from 3 to 5%, starting June 1, is unfair to the local lodging industry. It was passed by the county Board of Supervisors a few weeks ago (April 6), giving local lodge owners less than two months to prepare.

The lodging industry today has changed. Individuals and groups book accommodations sooner today than in the past. For our lodge (Rock and River in Keene), over 60% of our summer-fall bookings and almost all of our larger, group bookings were made prior to the official adoption of this new rate. The amount we listed and charged for the county bed tax was 3%, which was the correct amount for any bookings made prior to April 6. Lodge owners can’t ask their guests to pay more than the originally agreed upon, contracted or stated amount. In addition, many groups/clubs/organizations that have booked with us have already paid.

What this ultimately comes down to is that we, the lodge owners, will have to pay this newly increased 2% rate out of our own pockets (and for many, this amount will be substantial). Combine this with the current pandemic and the economic hardships/uncertainty imposed by it, and I think it isn’t too much to ask the county Board of Supervisors to reconsider the start date for this rate increase, perhaps moving it to Dec. 1 (the end of the fourth tax quarter). This would be a goodwill gesture and in my opinion, especially now, the right thing to do, affording lodging businesses a more proper amount of time to prepare.

Ed Palen

Keene