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Proponent Written Testimony on HB 161 — Jamie Wheeler, Visitors Bureau of Highland County

Summary

Proponent written testimony on HB 161 from Jamie Wheeler, Executive Director of the Visitors Bureau of Highland County, dated April 30, 2025. The testimony expresses support for House Bill 161, which it describes as ensuring that short-term rentals (STRs) are taxed the same way as hotels and motels. It states that this is not a new tax, that lodging taxes have existed since 1967, and that the sales tax has been in place since 1935. It states that, at last count, Highland County had over 75 STRs, and it urges the committee to support the bill.

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“Proponent Written Testimony on HB 161 — Jamie Wheeler, Visitors Bureau of Highland County.” Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/2025-04-30-development-testimony-testimony-5750-d3470589fc/, SHA-256 d01789c1bf4120c92cda6738f46443711768d081a3a40695e69155ca90d7f887.

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                                                                       Visitors Bureau of Highland County
                                                                                     129 North High Street
                                                                                      Hillsboro, OH 45133
                                                                                            (937) 393-1111
                                                                            info@visithighlandcounty.com

                                       Jamie Wheeler
                                     Executive Director
                            Visitors Bureau of Highland County
                           Proponent Written Testimony – HB 161
                                       April 30, 2025

Thank you for the opportunity to provide written testimony in support of House Bill 161.
My name is Jamie Wheeler, and I serve as the Executive Director of the Visitors Bureau of
Highland County. I am writing to express my strong support for HB 161, which ensures that
short-term rentals (STRs) are taxed the same way as hotels and motels. STRs provide the same
lodging services as traditional accommodations and should contribute equally to our local
communities.

It is important to emphasize that this is not a new tax. Lodging taxes have existed since 1967,
and the sales tax has been in place since 1935. HB 161 simply modernizes the tax code to reflect
new commercial lodging activity, ensuring fairness across all providers.

Our community stands to benefit significantly from proper tax collection and remittance from
STRs. At last count, Highland County had over 75 STRs operating in our area. These properties
are used by visitors, families of residents attending local events, and even by businesses hosting
visiting executives. Capturing tax revenue from this lodging activity would help fund critical
public services, infrastructure improvements, and tourism development that benefit both
residents and visitors.

The Visitors Bureau of Highland County supports STRs as a valuable part of our tourism
economy. We recognize their important role in expanding lodging options and attracting more
visitors to our area. For these reasons, we urge the committee to support House Bill 161.

Thank you again for your time, consideration, and the opportunity to submit written testimony.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions.

Sincerely,



Jamie Wheeler
Executive Director
Visitors Bureau of Highland County

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