The Hotel Tax is not a done deal: Funding community needs over entertainment venues in Kent County

On August 6th, voters in Kent County marginally decided to support the hotel tax increase that was on the ballot and being promoted by the group Destination Kent Committee.

I say marginally, since the vote was 65,909 in favor and 56,976 against. This is a small difference, especially when you consider that the Destination Kent Committee raised $468,450.00, nearly half a million dollars in just a few months, without any real organized opposition. The Destination Kent Committee spent most of their money on Public Relations and Advertising, with a large chunk being used for mailers and radio spots in the Grand Rapids market.

However, even with the slim margin of votes in favor of the hotel tax increase, the money that the ballot initiative stated would be used for the outdoor amphitheater, the Soccer Stadium and the Aquarium is not completely a done deal.

According to an MLive article from August 9th: 

Tuesday’s vote gave Kent County the ability to levy the additional tax. Now, for it to go into effect starting in 2025, the county board must approve levying it. County Administrator Al Vanderberg said the board could consider doing so as soon as its Aug. 22 meeting. 

The MLive article also states that Grand Action 2.0, which contributed $300,000 to the campaign to pass the hotel tax increase, will be asking Grand Rapids City Commissioners to provide $27 Million in public tax money to cover the rest of the cost of the outdoor amphitheater, and likely an additional $100 Million at a future date for the Soccer Stadium. 

Seeing that there is still a window for the public to weigh in on this matter, there are some options for action. First, there is a petition created by Kent County Commissioner Ivan Diaz, which states the following:

At the August 22nd, 2024 meeting of the Kent County Board of Commissioners, the Board will be asked to appropriate funds from the County Hotel/Motel tax to fund projects that are being built or have been proposed in the downtown area, including the Acrisure Amphitheater, the Soccer Stadium and an Aquarium.

Investments should and need to be made in other parts of the County, not just the Downtown Area. 

If Public Dollars are being demanded for these projects, the Public should benefit.

Sign our petition to demand that a percentage of the revenue from the Hotel/Motel Tax is used outside of the downtown area so that our entire County can benefit from these initiatives! After signing, reach out to your County Commissioner to demand that they fight for their communities!

Second, people could show up at the August 22nd Kent County Commission, a meeting which begins at 8:30am in Room 310 of the County Administration Building, to push the County Commissioners to make the same kind of investments in other parts of Kent County and/or for people in the county that are struggling to survive in this economy.

According to the Destination Kent Committee, once the Hotel Tax increase goes into effect, it would result in an estimated $24 Million in tax dollars generated. What if instead of redirecting that money to pay for entertainment venues, the $24 million annual would go to provide social housing for families, rental assistance for tenants, addressing food insecurity, improved health care and more environmental justice outcomes for the people who already live in this city and are struggling to survive.