The Senate Taxation Committee passed a bill that allows Deadwood hotels to raise their occupational tax. Senate Bill 98 permits hotels to charge three dollars instead of two dollars per occupied room per night. Mike Rodman represents the Deadwood Resort Association. He says Deadwood is hurting, and the city needs more revenue for marketing.
“2013 gaming revenues were down $4.3 million,” Rodman says. “Deadwood hotel occupancy fell also. Deadwood has been working to reinvent itself and needs to become a global player in the integrated destination resort business. To do this Deadwood needs to market itself nationally against other destinations.”
Rodman says the bill raises $240 thousand for the city. But opponents say they don’t like raising taxes, and disagree with a bill targeting just one municipality. The Committee sent the bill to the full Senate for further debate.