Voters in the Tulsa suburb of Owasso will vote on an increase in the city’s hotel tax to 5% from the current 3% on Aug. 29, the same day as Oklahoma’s primary runoff elections.
The increase would raise the revenue from the tax to a projected $200,000 a year from about $120,000.
Owasso currently has three hotels, but three more are planned or under construction. Each new hotel would add $50,000 to $70,000 to the annual revenue from the tax.
The 3% hotel tax was authorized by voters in 2002.
The city hopes to use the additional revenue to finance municipal improvements, redevelopment on Main Street, and a downtown festival park.
Owasso’s 3% motel tax is the lowest in the area. Broken Arrow and Claremore levy a 4% hotel tax, with Tulsa collecting a 5% hotel tax.
