Executive Fiala Asking Local Hotel to Pay Back Hotel/Motel Tax

BINGHAMTON, NY - Broome County Executive Barbara J. Fiala announced today that Broome County is aggressively pursuing hotel/motel tax receipts that have not been paid by the Grand Royale Hotel since March of 2000. The Grand Royale(formerly the Hotel DeVille) is located in Downtown Binghamton.

According to Broome County financial records, the Grand Royale Hotel in downtown Binghamton, definitely owes the county approximately $40,000 in unpaid hotel/motel tax and probably owes a lot more than that. A previous audit confirmed that the tax was not paid to the county between March 1, 2000 and November 30, 2001. The amount owed to Broome County between those dates is $42,950.69.

A more recent audit requested by the Broome County Executive’s Office uncovered that the Grand Royale continued to not pay its hotel/motel tax and it is now estimated that the hotel owes Broome County nearly $130,000.00.

The Broome County Commissioner of Finance, Jerome Knebel, has sent a letter asking the Grand Royale for the hotel’s records from December 1st, 2001 to present. Broome County wants to conduct an inspection of those records to determine what additional money is due the county.

A warrant has been issued to the Broome County Sheriff to collect the original $42,950.69. Once the warrant is issued, the Grand Royale Hotel will have 60 days to pay that amount or work out an agreement with county officials.

The request to inspect the hotel’s records asked for a response within 10 days. If the inspection of records indicates the county is owed additional hotel/motel tax, Broome County will pursue that amount as well.

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