Maine Calling: Short Term Rentals

The Maine Public radio show, Maine Calling, did an interesting show today on the disruption to a traditional industry here created by the likes of AirBnB and VRBO, and the efforts of cities like Rockland and Portland to regulate short term rentals. The guests included the director of the Maine Innkeepers Association, a rep from a vacation rental property management company, and the Code Enforcement Officer from Rockland, as well as a phone-in by a Portland city council member.
It's just shy of an hour, but if you've got time to spare and want to give it a listen: http://mainepublic.org/post/short-term-rentals

And the lodging tax is in the budget for another raise. One more thing. Thanks for the link!

I was able to hear the second half, took me a while to get it to work. Interesting. Now I'm enjoying Maine Public Radio's music.

Morticia said:

And the lodging tax is in the budget for another raise. One more thing. Thanks for the link!.

Click to expand...

I hope that doesn't go through, or at the very least delay the implementation until after the season is over!
ETA, and they probably wouldn't have to raise it if they could just collect the existing tax from all the short-term rentals that are either ignorant or avoiding collecting this tax.

OnTheShore said:

Morticia said:

And the lodging tax is in the budget for another raise. One more thing. Thanks for the link!.

Click to expand...

I hope that doesn't go through, or at the very least delay the implementation until after the season is over!
ETA, and they probably wouldn't have to raise it if they could just collect the existing tax from all the short-term rentals that are either ignorant or avoiding collecting this tax.
.

Click to expand...

So true.

Has Air started collecting state and local taxes yet? If not, there's hope they'll do it in the future if pressure is kept on them. They had been collecting state, but starting Jan 1st they started collecting our local tax also.
Keep the pressure on them!

Breakfast Diva said:

Has Air started collecting state and local taxes yet? If not, there's hope they'll do it in the future if pressure is kept on them. They had been collecting state, but starting Jan 1st they started collecting our local tax also.
Keep the pressure on them!.

Click to expand...

Not yet in the most NW county.
What did your county do to get this done - if you know.

Anon Inn said:

Breakfast Diva said:

Has Air started collecting state and local taxes yet? If not, there's hope they'll do it in the future if pressure is kept on them. They had been collecting state, but starting Jan 1st they started collecting our local tax also.
Keep the pressure on them!.

Click to expand...

Not yet in the most NW county.
What did your county do to get this done - if you know.
.

Click to expand...

Most counties in our state are now having their taxes taken by Air. They have their headquarters in the 'big city' and there's been pressure from many agencies. The fact that they didn't do the whole state is indicative of how they fight against doing the right thing. I'm not sure what our county did to be included.

Breakfast Diva said:

Has Air started collecting state and local taxes yet? If not, there's hope they'll do it in the future if pressure is kept on them. They had been collecting state, but starting Jan 1st they started collecting our local tax also.
Keep the pressure on them!.

Click to expand...

Don't know but they do the tax as well here.