STE. GENEVIEVE – Ste. Genevieve County voters will consider a six percent lodging tax on the April 7 ballot that would apply only to visitors staying in local accommodations.
The tax would be collected on overnight stays at hotels, motels, short-term rentals, and RV parks, ensuring that those who visit and enjoy the area help support tourism efforts.
The city is working with the county to establish an agreement that would allow the county and the city to work together to determine how the revenue is used, focusing specifically on tourism marketing and promotion to bring more visitors and economic activity to the community.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a lodging tax? A lodging tax (also called a hotel tax or transient occupancy tax) is a small percentage added to the cost of a room. RV pad, or short-term rental stay. The tax is paid by visitors and collected at the time of booking or checkout.
Who pays the lodging tax? Guests pay the tax — not property owners. Owners and operators are responsible for collecting the tax and remitting it to the County.
What are typical lodging tax rates? Across the country, lodging tax rates commonly range between 3% and 14%, depending on the size of the city or county and the scope of tourism activity.
The county is proposing a 6% lodging tax. This would be in addition to the 2% city lodging tax. So a $100 nightly rental would be taxed at $2 for the city tax and $6 for the county tax.
Why is the County considering a lodging tax? The purpose of the lodging tax is for visitors to help support the services and amenities they use while staying in our community. This includes: Tourism promotion and destination marketing Local events and festivals Infrastructure improvements in visitor areas Arts, culture, and heritage initiatives Public space maintenance This approach will boost tourism promotion and thus boost visitors to Ste. Genevieve County and City. This approach also reduces reliance on taxes paid by residents.
How does a county lodging tax benefit local residents? A lodging tax benefits county residents by allowing tourism to help fund tourism promotion and related initiatives without increasing taxes on local citizens. Increased tourism can boost local businesses, create jobs, and expand the local tax base through additional spending at restaurants, shops, and other establishments, ultimately strengthening the local economy and supporting community services without placing the financial burden on residents.
How could this benefit my hotel or short-term rental? When lodging tax revenue is invested in tourism promotion and events: More visitors are attracted to the city Occupancy rates may increase Demand can support stronger nightly rates The overall visitor economy grows Communities that actively promote themselves often see stronger long-term tourism performance than those that do not.
Will this make our county less competitive? Most counties with active tourism industries have lodging taxes. In many cases, not having a lodging tax can limit a county’s ability to market itself effectively, potentially resulting in fewer visitors over time. Currently, the City of Perryville, St. Francois County and Jefferson County all charge a lodging tax – they are benefiting from state grants that double some of that tax revenue – Ste.. Genevieve County is missing out on those state funds – funds which would allow us to be more competitive. Because visitors expect lodging taxes in most destinations, moderate rates generally do not significantly impact booking decisions.
How would the tax be collected? Details would be finalized through ordinance, but typically: Hotels collect and remit the tax directly to the county. Short-term rental platforms (e.g., Airbnb, VRBO) offer to collect and remit taxes automatically on behalf of hosts where agreements are in place. But they have declined to sign an agreement with the City of Ste. Genevieve and most likely there will be no agreement with the County either. Thus short-term rentals would submit the tax as independent operators. Independent operators would remit payments on a scheduled basis (usually monthly or quarterly) to the County. Clear instructions and support would be provided before implementation.
When would the lodging tax take effect? If approved, there would be a transition period to allow owners and platforms time to: Update pricing systems Adjust booking platforms Understand reporting requirements Prepare for compliance The County 6% lodging tax would go into effect July 1st, 2026. Those lodging taxes would then be expected to be submitted to the County each month or quarter going forward.
How will funds be managed and tracked? The County would ensure transparency in how funds are allocated. This may include: An intergovernmental agreement with the City of Ste. Genevieve Tourism Tax Commission to budget and utilize the tax revenues to promote tourism. Annual budgeting and reporting on revenue and expenditures Oversight by the County Commission and the Tourism Tax Commission
What happens if the lodging tax does not pass? Without a lodging tax, the County will have NO funding for: Destination marketing Tourism promotion Tourism infrastructure improvements Matching funds for Missouri State Tourism grants programs that could double the dollars for tourism promotion. This could impact long-term visitor growth and overall tourism competitiveness.
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