Perth considers accommodation tax on short-term stays
Perth is exploring whether visitors should help support the tourism services and amenities they use while in town.
Staff are studying the feasibility of introducing a municipal accommodation tax on hotel, motel, bed-and-breakfast and short-term rental stays of less than 30 nights. No decision has been made and council is not yet being asked to approve the tax. The initiative comes as staff seek ways to increase revenue that could help support town services, according to Cathy McNally, director of community services.
“My biggest concern, if not fear, is that we will drive more and more people away from this community if all of a sudden the cost of staying here goes up significantly,” said Coun. Jim Boldt.
Staff are also considering creating a council committee involving councillors and tourism stakeholders to oversee that portion of the funding.
Coun. Isabel McRae pointed out that in communities such as Picton in Prince Edward County, half of the revenue collected through the accommodation tax is shared between tourism initiatives and municipal infrastructure. Most municipalities, she said, charge a four per cent tax. If Perth adopted the same rate, McRae estimated the town could generate between $45,000 and $70,000 a year.
“So that would be money that could go into tourism to kick back into promoting tourism in our area, as well as money that could come in to help with infrastructure,” said McRae.
Accommodation operators will be consulted from Sept. 28 to Oct. 11, followed by tourism and business organizations and a broader stakeholder session later in October. Staff expect to return to council in the new year with a recommendation.
Perth fire department looking to secure $20,600 safety grant
Perth Fire Services has applied for $20,618.30 through the province’s Fire Protection Grant Program to purchase 34 protective hoods, 34 pairs of firefighting gloves and a gear-drying rack.
“We’ve received this grant the last two years, for bunker gear, so pants and jackets. We’ve pivoted a little bit this year to go towards a second set of gloves and balaclavas for everyone, so it’s just sort of building out the rest of the kit for the firefighters,” Fire Chief Trevor Choffe told committee.
The equipment is intended to reduce firefighters’ exposure to carcinogens and other harmful contaminants.
Because the application deadline was Sept. 1, staff submitted the request before obtaining council’s support. Council is now being asked to formally back the application.
If the grant is successful, staff will return with another report seeking authorization to enter into the funding agreement. No equipment will be purchased unless funding is awarded and council approves the agreement.
Perth finances steady at halfway point
Perth’s finances are generally tracking as expected halfway through 2026, although several departments are running above the usual mid-year spending benchmark.
Staff say most variances are linked to timing, seasonal operations, wage allocations, grant recognition and accounting adjustments that will be made later in the year.
“If there’s any issues where we think that it is going to go over budget, then that is where we would come to council and say okay, this is the reasoning why. At this point, anything that I’ve seen is pretty indicative of what I saw last year. A lot of the departments are seasonal, so you’re going to see a lot more of the expenses go through at the beginning of the year than the end of the year,” Nev Jande, town treasurer, told committee.
Information technology has used about 81 per cent of its annual budget, while roads, environmental services administration and several parks and recreation accounts are also above the 50-per-cent benchmark. Staff are reviewing wage allocations and other charges to ensure costs have been recorded in the correct departments.
Water and wastewater operations remain stable following the approved six-per-cent rate increase, and staff say there are no significant financial concerns with utility operations.
Overall, the town remains in a stable financial position.
Perth resident seeks broader cannabis-smoking restrictions
A resident is asking Perth council to look beyond municipal property when considering restrictions on cannabis smoking and vaping.
In a letter to Mayor Judy Brown and council, Dirk Nagy supports work already underway to examine prohibiting smoking and vaping on municipally owned land, but wants staff to consider restrictions in other public and shared spaces where people cannot easily avoid second-hand smoke or odour.
“I’m fully in favour of proceeding with this. The Development Services Department at the moment is working on a smoking bylaw. And I think with this additional request, the two are naturally linked, so I think we should proceed and I fully support it,” said Coun. Gary Waterfield.
The letter points to streets, sidewalks, parking areas and commercial spaces, and cites Markham and Richmond Hill as municipalities that have adopted broader restrictions on recreational cannabis smoking and vaping.
Nagy is asking staff and legal counsel to examine Perth’s authority, along with enforcement, medical cannabis accommodation, accessibility and public-health considerations.
The letter stresses the request is not about banning cannabis, but determining where smoking or vaping should be allowed when it affects other people sharing the same public space.
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