Senator George Latimer (D-37 SD) and Assemblyman Steve Otis (D-91 AD) are pleased to announce that legislation they sponsored to provide a non-property tax revenue source for the villages of Mamaroneck and Port Chester – through an occupancy charge on hotel rooms – has been signed into law by Governor Cuomo.

The new laws permit the local governments of Port Chester and Mamaroneck to impose an occupancy tax of up to three percent on hotel stays in the two villages. Local officials have long sought this authority to maintain essential services and programs using alternate sources of non-property tax revenue. The Governor also approved similar measures affecting the villages and towns of North Castle, Greenburgh, Tuckahoe, Harrison, Dobbs Ferry and Hastings-on-Hudson in Westchester.

“An additional fee on hotel rooms is a way local governments have sought to diversify their revenues and reduce their reliance on property taxes to support vital local services,” said Assemblyman Otis. “Here in Westchester, most hotel rooms are already covered by a local hotel fee to control property taxes. Other communities have requested the opportunity to impose a similar hotel occupancy fee and granting them this authority makes sense. I am grateful to Governor Cuomo for his leadership on efforts to reduce the property tax burden on New York homeowners and working with us on these local requests.”

Currently New Rochelle, Peekskill, Rye, Rye Brook, White Plains and Yonkers have successfully used this alternative revenue source as an alternative to the property tax.

"I am pleased that this bill has been signed into law by Governor Cuomo,” said Senator Latimer. “This bill will ensure the continuation of vital local services and programs while alleviating the burden on our property taxes."

“We are grateful to Governor Cuomo for signing the bill into law,” said Port Chester Mayor Dennis Pilla. “The hotel tax will help to level the playing field for Port Chester to diversify its revenue sources. This is important so we can maintain and improve our infrastructure and services that are used by people who live here, as well as those who visit.”

Said Mamaroneck Village Mayor Norman Rosenblum, “We appreciate the continued efforts over the past few years by Assemblyman Steve Otis and Senator George Latimer who have been working on our behalf, and are appreciative to Governor Cuomo for signing this legislation to allow the Village of Mamaroneck to increase our revenue sources with this hotel tax. It is certainly a positive impact in this economic climate to have a new revenue source for the Village of Mamaroneck.”