Brookhaven: Hotel Tax Could Fund Greenway Project

BROOKHAVEN, GA -- Brookhaven hotel visitors would see a 5 to 8 percent tax rate increase on their invoices if a request by the city is approved.

In a unanimous vote, the Brookhaven City Council voted this week to push the matter to DeKalb lawmakers, who would then draft a bill on the tax hike.

The generated funds would help pay for the construction of the Peachtree Creek Greenway, city officials said.

The Peachtree Creek Greenway is a proposed 12-mile trail/bikeway that will eventually connect to Doraville, Path 400 in Buckhead and the Atlanta Beltline.

The request from Brookhaven is in line with recent requests by neighboring Chamblee and Doraville, who want to also increase their hotel / motel rates to 8 percent.

"According to state law, the additional 3 percent tax levied would be required to be split 50/50, with half being expended for promoting tourism, conventions and trade shows by the destination marketing organization designated by the municipality levying the tax, and the other half expended by the City for “tourism product development,” the city said in a news release.

Brookhaven City Manager Christian Sigman called the hotel/motel tax is a “logical funding source” for the greenway project, the city said.

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