Thursday, October 28, 2010
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Auerbach tells hotel operators there is no need to increase bed tax
10/20/10
KINGSTON – The Ulster County Lodging Coalition was relieved to hear of Ulster County Comptroller Elliott Auerbach’s recently released findings regarding certain discrepancies in the amount of money collected through the county’s hotel/motel occupancy tax which he shared with them at a Tuesday evening meeting in Kingston.
“There is room for improvement in the management and administration of the bed tax program and as a result there has been revenue left on the table,” Auerbach said.
The actual dollar amount of revenue left uncollected is still under debate, but Auerbach supported retaining the current two percent tax, not increasing it, saying that those in charge of administrating it need to become “better stewards of what is already in place.”
Ulster County Lodging Coalition Chairwoman and General Manager of Mohonk Mountain House, Jackie Appeldorn, said that the Lodging Coalition was relieved by Auerbach’s findings because they further support his recommendation of a zero percent increase to the current bed tax.
“Going into the next election, and because of the economic situation, we have feared that the bed tax might be an easy target. So when his report came out and said that he was not recommending an increase and he thought there was enough money there; that was reassuring.”
Appeldorn said that ideally the Coalition would like to see the bed tax repealed, but at this point they have learned to live with it at two percent and the last thing they would like to see is an increase.
(Copyright © 2010 Mid-Hudson News Network, a division of Statewide News Network, Inc)
10/20/10
KINGSTON – The Ulster County Lodging Coalition was relieved to hear of Ulster County Comptroller Elliott Auerbach’s recently released findings regarding certain discrepancies in the amount of money collected through the county’s hotel/motel occupancy tax which he shared with them at a Tuesday evening meeting in Kingston.
“There is room for improvement in the management and administration of the bed tax program and as a result there has been revenue left on the table,” Auerbach said.
The actual dollar amount of revenue left uncollected is still under debate, but Auerbach supported retaining the current two percent tax, not increasing it, saying that those in charge of administrating it need to become “better stewards of what is already in place.”
Ulster County Lodging Coalition Chairwoman and General Manager of Mohonk Mountain House, Jackie Appeldorn, said that the Lodging Coalition was relieved by Auerbach’s findings because they further support his recommendation of a zero percent increase to the current bed tax.
“Going into the next election, and because of the economic situation, we have feared that the bed tax might be an easy target. So when his report came out and said that he was not recommending an increase and he thought there was enough money there; that was reassuring.”
Appeldorn said that ideally the Coalition would like to see the bed tax repealed, but at this point they have learned to live with it at two percent and the last thing they would like to see is an increase.
(Copyright © 2010 Mid-Hudson News Network, a division of Statewide News Network, Inc)
Monday, September 27, 2010
WHO'S BEEN SLEEPING IN OUR BEDS?
COMPTROLLER HAS RESERVATIONS ABOUT HOTEL TAX COLLECTION
Auerbach Seeks Monies That Could Offset Property Taxes
KINGSTON, NY (September 27, 2010)… Ulster County has a modest hotel-motel occupancy tax and Comptroller Elliott Auerbach wants to ensure that it stays that way. Ulster’s Finance Department currently collects a 2% “bed tax” as compared to neighboring counties who have tax rates of four (4 ) and five (5) percent and Auerbach wants to keep it at that level so that Ulster County resorts remain competitive.
What the Comptroller has issue with are the dozens of cases of unreported, under-reported, delinquent and uncollected taxes from hotels, motels, beds and breakfasts, inns and vacation homes that have not met their obligations. Earlier this year, David OHalloran, chairman of the county’s lodging coalition estimated that “there are some places that do not collect the tax like they’re supposed to.” He estimated that “30-40 hotels and probably 100 percent of vacation home rentals” don’t pay.
Auerbach agreed when he pointed out that according to a 2009 study by Tourism Economics, visitors in Ulster County spend $167 million on lodging in 2009. “By my calculation two percent of that $167 million is $3.3 million in revenue yet the County’s Annual Financial Reports for 2008 and 2009 indicate revenues of $1,025,522.00 and $964,038.00 respectively.
“Our Revenue Trends report released in July 2010 raises the bar on the importance of focusing on revenues,” said Comptroller Auerbach, “we are in no position to be leaving this money on the table. We conducted a search of hotel/motel properties in the County and found ninety (90) not on the County’s master list.”
“Within the test group of 23,” said Auerbach, “we found that 96 opportunities to generate revenue were missed.” The review found a pattern of failures to send late notices, level penalties, or charge interest to operators who did not file, did not file timely, and did not file complete returns.
“There are issues of equity as well,” said the Comptroller, “we have operators who are diligently collecting and paying the tax and it is not fair that others should skate by and either avoid the tax altogether or just file returns whenever they want.”
One of the report’s recommendations is for the Department of Finance to coordinate with the Health Department on identifying properties that need to be brought current and into compliance with the law.
The Comptroller said that the next step for his office will be to audit tax returns filed by operators.
www.ulstercountyny.gov/resources/comptroller
Thursday, September 23, 2010
ULSTER COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT IS ON-LINE
AUERBACH PROMISES NO “ENRON-STYLE” AUDITS
Ulster Comptroller Releases First On- Line Independent Financial Audit
KINGSTON, NY (September 23, 2010)… Ulster County Comptroller Elliott Auerbach announced that the 2009 audit of Ulster County’s books and records is complete and, for the first time, is available for immediate public inspection at the Ulster County Comptroller’s website.
“Financial audits are done to protect the public, not government,” said Auerbach, “so it is important the public have ready access to the audit.”
Members of the public rely on audits to understand the financial well-being of the County, to learn how their tax dollars are spent and to make decisions on how vote, explained Auerbach.
“Annual independent audits by the Comptroller are so important to public integrity that the County Charter mandates the Legislature fund the audit annually,” said Auerbach. The first among the Comptroller’s duties in the Charter is to “examine, audit and verify all books, records and accounts kept by the various administrative units, offices and officials paid from County funds…”
“I am pleased to report that the audit found that in all material respects the County’s financial statements are fairly presented,” said Auerbach.
Financial audits records provide an independent, professional opinion on the reliability of the County’s financial statements. Financial statements represent the financial condition of the County. Financial condition results, in part, from the management of the County’s finances by the Executive and from financial management policies the Legislature may or may not have adopted.
“Another first for Ulster County is that this audit was overseen by the independent Office of the Comptroller,” said Auerbach, “County taxpayers can be assured that no “Enron-style” audits will result during my watch.”
The 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report can be found at www.ulstercountyny/resources/comptroller
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