MALONE, N.Y. -
It's a busy time for hotels throughout Franklin County, New York.
Rooms are booked as tourists come in for the summer season.
But this time next year people could notice a difference in the price they pay.
That's because county leaders are considering a new 3% bed tax.
Money, Malone Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Hugh Hill says hotels need.
"We normally wouldn't want to put any more burdens on our industries but I think that they industries are probably pretty interested in this," said Hill.
The reason, Hill says the money collected will go into a tourism campaign.
If the tax does come to Franklin County it shouldn't come as a shock to North Country tourists.
That's because nearby Essex and Clinton County already charge hotel guests an extra 3%.
What would this tax mean to you?
Let's say you find a rate of $150-dollars on a travel web site.
Looks like a great deal!
But that number you see isn't what you will pay.
First, add on 8% in state sales tax, that's $12-dollars.
Then, if the county approves the bed tax, add another $4.50.
That terrific room just went from 150 to 165.
"We think that there's a decent amount of money to be had," said Hill.
More than $400-thousand a year Hill says to be exact.
Money that he says will be well spent on getting more people to visit Franklin County.
"It's not really a tax, it's a promotional fee," said Hill.
No matter how you look at it though, that great price you see now might not be around for long.
The proposal is beginning looked at by a committee of Franklin County business leaders.
If approved, it could go into place sometime next year.
