Sponsor Testimony on House Bill 161

Summary

Sponsor testimony on House Bill 161 by State Representative Jim Thomas of the 49th House District, delivered to the Ohio House Development Committee on April 9, 2025. The testimony describes tourism in Stark County and states that travel and tourism generated a $2.2 Billion economic impact there in 2023. It says Stark County and Visit Canton have not been receiving state and local sales and use taxes from short-term rental stays, and that the bill would require the operator of the short-term rental platform to collect and remit those taxes. Citing Visit Canton data, it reports 170 short-term rental listings as of 2/14/25, host revenue of approximately $2.24 million, and estimated lost revenue of $134,841 from the 6% lodging tax and $129,226 from the 5.75% state sales and use tax. The testimony closes by noting that Representative Bird joins in answering questions.

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Committees

49th House District Judiciary (Chair)
Stark County Finance
(City of Canton, Jackson Education
Township, Plain Township) Ways and Means
Columbus Office
77 S. High Street
Hth Floor

Columbus, Ohio 43215-6111
(614) 466-8030

Rep49@ohiohouse.gov Jim Thomas
State Representative

Sponsor Testimony on House Bill 161
House Development Committee
April 9, 2025

Chairman Hoops, Vice-Chair Lorenz, Ranking Member Abdullahi, and members of the House
Development Committee: thank you for the opportunity to provide sponsor testimony on House
Bill 161.

As I was born and raised in Stark County, I am proud to call this my home. The City of Canton is
fortunate to have a number of tourist attractions including the National First Ladies Library and
Museum, the William McKinley Presidential Library and Museum, and the Pro Footbal! Hall of
Fame Museum and Village.

As the members of this committee are well aware, tourism contributes to the quality of life, job
market, and wealth of the community. The Stark County Convention and Visitors Bureau, dba
Visit Canton, is funded by a lodging tax administered through the County. The organization’s
mission is to promote travel to Stark County and to facilitate operations that support the travel and
tourism industry.

In 2023, travel and tourism generated a $2.2 Billion economic impact in Stark County. Travel and
tourism spending supported 6.5% of all jobs and generated $217.2 million in household incomes
across Stark County in 2023.

Unfortunately, Stark County and Visit Canton have not been receiving state and local sales and
use taxes from short-term rental stays. This bill would fix this issue, and require the collection and
remittance of the taxes by the operator of the short-term rental platform.

According to data provided by Visit Canton, as of 2/14/25, there were 170 current short-term rental
listings in Stark County. Over the past year, host revenue was approximately $2.24 million. The
average daily rate was $131. The loss of county revenue from the 6% lodging tax was
approximately $134,841. The loss of revenue to the state from the 5.75% sales and use tax was
approximately $129,226. The loss of revenue to the County from the .75% sales tax rate was
approximately $16,856.

Chairman Hoops, Vice-Chair Lorenz, Ranking Member Abdullahi, and members of the House
Development Committee: thank you for the opportunity to provide sponsor testimony on House
Bill 161. Representative Bird and I are happy to answer any questions.

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