New bill would let Eastern Shore counties raise hotel room tax

OCEAN CITY, Md- Eastern Shore lawmakers are pushing a bill that would give Worcester, Wicomico, Somerset, and Dorchester counties the ability to raise hotel room taxes above the state cap of 5 percent up to an additional one percent.

According to Delegate Wayne Hartman, the increase in funding for Ocean City alone would total an additional 5.4 million dollars in revenue in Ocean City that could be folded into the city’s public safety budget, which Delegate Wayne Hartman argues could help with the city’s growing need for EMS and Police staff.

“Municipalities could use these funds to offset the cost of public safety, as we know Ocean City is an economic driver for the state and we need to protect the asset it is, a safe affordable vacation destination,” Hartman said.

According to Senator Mary Beth Carozza, that revenue estimated at a $5.4 million increase to Ocean City’s public safety budget, would go toward 29 additional full-time firefighters and paramedics, nine additional full-time police officers, and lifeguard and transportation employee wage increases.