BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

CANTON -- Legislators have decided to opt out of New York State's short-term rental registry, opting instead to use a county model they feel is far more effective. 

The move to opt out came during the May 4 Full Board meeting of the legislature, during which Legislator Jim Reagen voiced strong opposition to the resolution that passed 12-2.

A small business owner himself, Reagen said the Sherman Inn would largely not be impacted by the change but was concerned about the lasting impact it would have on other businesses. 

Reagen did support opting out of the state's framework, saying the county's model set forth by the Treasurer's Office was far better, but had other concerns related to the resolution, especially in regards to the bed tax distribution. 

Support tourism with tax?

"This county, since the very beginning, has pocketed a large percentage of the money, and used it for purposes other than what it was originally intended for," Reagen said. 

He said he was concerned the county would continue to treat small businesses, the lodging industry and tourism as a cash cow each year. 

He said he felt it was important the county market to neighboring counties, like Jefferson County which is home to Fort Drum, to attract more families to the county. 

Reagen said the offerings in the county, including the multi-use trail system, Singer Castle, Frederick Remington Art Museum, Power and Equipment Museum in Madrid, as well as the Eisenhower Locks in Massena, are major attractions that need to be marketed. 

Reagen said the bed tax has served as a good benchmark for the county to begin, however he remains concerned the funds are not being properly allocated. 

 Reagen said many small businesses in the county are hurting and need more help bringing customers to their doorstep. 

"For us to not use this opportunity to invest in their future, to bring more business here to this county, is a travesty," he said. 

Offsetting property tax?

Legislator Joseph Lightfoot differed from Reagen, saying the bed tax was "no skin off the nose of property owners" in the county. 

"It's not coming out of their pocket," he said. 

Lightfoot said while the county has taken a portion of those proceeds, it has been reinvested multiple times, including in tourism efforts like the Bassmaster Elite Series, which has come to Waddington six times since 2013. 

Reagen said the county has also used the funds to support Chamber operations, while also promoting natural attractions and activities such as boating, skiing, the trail system, fishing and hunting. 

He said "admittedly not all of it" has been used for those efforts though. 

"We use part of that for our general fund," he said. 

Lightfoot said that has allowed the county to lower the tax rate almost every year since 2016. 

"I think that's quite an accomplishment and a wise use of the money," he said. 

Legislator Anthony Levato echoed the sentiment, saying the idea a bed tax would deter travelers is a misnomer. 

Politics and tourism

He said many Canadian tourists have instead opted out of visiting the area for political reasons.

Levato said in conversations with staff at the St. Lawrence University golf course and Partridge Run golf course he learned many Canadians formerly came to golf on bank holiday weekends because golf rates are far cheaper and course conditions are far better than in Canada. 

That all changed with the political climate, he said. 

"Last summer they didn't come," he said. 

Levato commented that Canadian golfers did not care about paying "a little extra" for hotels to stay in Canton because there were other benefits. 

He said he wanted to make the "clear distinction" that the county is losing revenue and the local economy "is hurting," however he did not agree that the bed tax would keep tourists from visiting the area. 

Chairman David Forsythe said the resolution itself is a continuation of the bed tax and nothing more. 

Legislators also approved a resolution seeking state approval to raise  the bed tax from 3% to 5% later during the meeting by a 9 - 5 vote.