Overview
- Council President Kenyatta Johnson put the hotel‑tax bill on hold on Wednesday, effectively collapsing Mayor Cherelle Parker’s plan to raise taxes on hotels and short‑term rentals.
- Sources in Harrisburg told reporters there are not enough votes in the split General Assembly to approve the needed authorization for a hotel tax increase.
- City Council members say none of the remaining new‑tax proposals — including a $1 rideshare fee and a 25‑cent delivery tax — currently have the nine votes required to pass a preliminary budget.
- Airbnb launched a five‑figure ad campaign and organized host letters opposing the short‑term rental increase while tourism and hotel groups warned that diverting hotel tax revenue would harm convention and visitation funding.
- With the mayor’s recurring tax proposals rejected, Council moved to allocate about $48 million in one‑time savings to the School District and approved a smaller revenue change from cell‑tower use fees while leaders look for durable funding solutions.