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HASTINGS-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. The local villages of Greenburgh, including Hastings, Dobbs Ferry and Ardsley, have worked together to approve a resolution in support of the Hotel Occupancy Tax recently.
Hastings joined the other villages of Greenburgh on Tuesday night in supporting the tax even though it would not directly benefit the village.
We have, over the last five years, done things as a group of villages that have served us well, said Hastings Mayor Peter Swiderski. Sometimes all of us benefitted, sometimes only some of us benefitted, but we have definitely gained in joint ventures.
The villages of Greenburgh, the Town of Greenburgh and the Village of Sleepy Hollow have been working together to get the New York State Legislature to grant a home rule request, which would allow them to charge a 3 percent tax on anyone who stays in hotels or motels in their municipalities. One-sixth of the tax would be used to promote economic development and tourism within the municipality.
Ardsley Village Manager George Calvi said the tax would be a definite revenue enhancer and, even though there are only two motels in Ardsley, the village would still see direct revenue.
Its something that the group of six was reviewing and we said 'fine, we dont see any downsides to this,' he said. The state has to approve it and then we have to decide individually whether we want to activate it or not. Basically were obtaining the opportunity to facilitate such a tax if need be.
Dobbs Ferry Village Administrator Marcus Serrano said being a good neighbor to the other local villages was one of the main reasons for approving the resolution.
Were trying to create an environment where our total support will help Tarrytown and Elmsford and Ardsley with the hotels that they have in place, he said. We all try to help each other out on day to day issues.
Hastings Trustee Meg Walker said she was in favor of the resolution because any indirect revenue gained from tourists could be huge for local business owners.
It just hurts so much to see all these stores closed down so I just think we need to look at a variety of ways to get people into our downtown, she said.
Swiderski said since so many of the villages are linked together by attractions such as the Croton Aqueduct, its important to attract tourists to the area rather than to particular villages.
We are more interesting as a destination as a group, Swiderski said.
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