Public hearing on proposed lodging tax brings out concerned residents

 DOUBLE SPRINGS - A week before a special-called Winston County Commission meeting to discuss and vote on the proposed lodging tax, residents spoke out Monday, Feb. 10, voicing concerns over the tax and urging commissioners to rethink the issue.
The commission  voted Monday to have the special-called meeting to address and vote on the lodging tax, Tuesday, Feb. 18, at 9 a.m., due to the courthouse being closed Monday, Feb. 17, for Presidents’ Day.
All commissioners voted in favor of  voting on the issue next week, including Commission Chairman David Cummings, District 2 Commissioner  Roger Hayes and District 1 Commissioner Rutger Hyche, who drafted the proposed tax.
Benjamin Grizzell, owner of Smith Lake Rentals and Sales, was the first to address the commission Monday, stating the lodging tax would affect his business, which manages over 60 short-term rental properties on Smith Lake, 36 of which are in Winston County.
In 2023, the company did over $800,000 in gross rental revenue in just Winston County, Grizzell explained to commissioners.
In 2024, Smith Lake Rentals and Sales did over $650,000 in business, Grizzell added.
Hyche had made the motion in a recent meeting to approve the lodging tax, but the motion died for the lack of a second , due to Cummings and Hayes not supporting the proposed distribution of tax proceeds as outlined in the resolution authorizing the commission’s approval of the tax.
The commission’s approval would only be the first step toward getting the lodging tax passed, as the resolution then must be supported by the state legislature before being on the ballot in Winston County.
“I understand and respect the county’s desire to generate additional revenue, to support services like roads, law enforcement, tourism and fire protection,” Grizzell began.
He then requested the commission consider some points before voting on the lodging tax.