Reynoldsburg Considers Lodging Tax Expansion to Fund Old Reynoldsburg Revitalization
A proposed ordinance heading to a second reading would dedicate an estimated $300,000 to $350,000 annually to Old Reynoldsburg economic development efforts.
Reynoldsburg City Council is scheduled on Monday, Oct. 26, to consider proposed amendments to the municipal hotel tax during a second reading. During council's Oct. 12 meeting, officials noted that the city needs to update legislation to include short-term rentals in the bed tax. Under the proposed revision, half of all collected lodging tax revenues would go directly to a community improvement corporation to establish sustained funding focused on revitalizing Old Reynoldsburg. Development Director Meyer estimated that directing half of the bed tax would provide $300,000 to $350,000 annually for local economic development efforts without requiring yearly council appropriations.
Reynoldsburg City Hall, located at 7232 E. Main St. in Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
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Meyer highlighted a vacancy rate of about 30 percent. Director Meyer noted that the funds could support matching grants for building facades, interior improvements, fire suppression systems, signage, and income tax grant pilots to aid small businesses.
Mayor Joe Begeny clarified the allocation for the remaining half of the hotel tax revenue, explaining that a 25 percent share would continue to go to the Visitor's Bureau as required by mandate to maintain collection authority. The final 25 percent would be reappropriated for Council use to support public art initiatives and residential entryways, particularly in neighborhoods lacking homeowners associations to maintain signage or for areas currently without neighborhood markers.
City Attorney Shook stated that the city needs to update legislation to include short-term rentals in the bed tax, explaining that the state previously maintained a very narrow definition of what a hotel was before expanding that definition. Shook stated that 50 percent of the reappropriation to the Community Improvement Corporation occurs if it is active, which the city defines as having held at least one meeting in the preceding 12 months.
On the agenda for the upcoming meeting, Council has scheduled a consent agenda first reading for an ordinance designating the development corporation as an agency of the city under Ohio Revised Code Section 1724.10.
Development officials intend to begin in January 2027 to establish grant guidelines and evaluate funding levels, supported by approximately $20,000 in startup money already budgeted. During committee review, Councilmember Louis Salvati expressed support for reviving the development corporation, noting that earlier community discussions had advanced to funding considerations before falling apart.
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Reynoldsburg City Council is scheduled on Monday, Oct. 26, to consider proposed amendments to the municipal hotel tax during a second reading.
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Monday, October 26, 2026 6:30 PM Council Chambers
Reynoldsburg City Council is scheduled on Monday, Oct. 26, to consider proposed amendments to the municipal hotel tax during a second reading.
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13. CONSENT AGENDA FOR SECOND READING a. An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 192 Hotel Tax of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Reynoldsburg
On the agenda for the upcoming meeting, Council has scheduled a consent agenda first reading for an ordinance designating the development corporation as an agency of the city under Ohio Revised Code Section 1724.10.
Read supporting passage
Monday, October 26, 2026 6:30 PM Council Chambers
On the agenda for the upcoming meeting, Council has scheduled a consent agenda first reading for an ordinance designating the development corporation as an agency of the city under Ohio Revised Code Section 1724.10.
Read supporting passage
12. CONSENT AGENDA FOR FIRST READING a. An Ordinance Designating the Reynoldsburg Development Corporation as an Agency of the City Under Ohio Revised Code Section 1724.10 Political Designating Community Improvements and Authorizing the Execution of an Agreement and Plan for Industrial,
City Council Meeting · minutes
Supporting evidence (13)
During council's Oct. 12 meeting, officials noted that the city needs to update legislation to include short-term rentals in the bed tax.
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MINUTES REGULAR MEETING REYNOLDSBURG CITY COUNCIL October 12, 2026
During council's Oct. 12 meeting, officials noted that the city needs to update legislation to include short-term rentals in the bed tax.
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the City now needs to update legislation to include that expanded definition. They would now like to include short-term rentals in this bed tax.
Under the proposed revision, half of all collected lodging tax revenues would go directly to a community improvement corporation to establish sustained funding focused on revitalizing Old Reynoldsburg.
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He explained that half of the collected hotel tax revenue would be directed to a CIC to establish a stable, long-term funding source for community programming, particularly focused on revitalizing Old Reynoldsburg.
Development Director Meyer estimated that directing half of the bed tax would provide $300,000 to $350,000 annually for local economic development efforts without requiring yearly council appropriations.
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Based on current collections, Director Meyer estimated that allocating half of the hotel tax would provide roughly $300,000 to $350,000 annually for these economic development efforts, following best practices by ensuring reliable yearly funding without requiring annual appropriations.
Meyer highlighted a vacancy rate of about 30 percent.
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Highlighting a local vacancy rate of approximately thirty percent, he noted that the funds could support matching grants for building facades, interior improvements, fire suppression systems, signage, and income tax grant pilots to aid small businesses.
Director Meyer noted that the funds could support matching grants for building facades, interior improvements, fire suppression systems, signage, and income tax grant pilots to aid small businesses.
Read supporting passage
he noted that the funds could support matching grants for building facades, interior improvements, fire suppression systems, signage, and income tax grant pilots to aid small businesses.
Mayor Joe Begeny clarified the allocation for the remaining half of the hotel tax revenue, explaining that a 25 percent share would continue to go to the Visitor's Bureau as required by mandate to maintain collection authority.
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Mayor Begeny clarified the allocation for the remaining half of the hotel tax revenue. He explained that 25% would continue to go to the Visitor's Bureau as required by mandate to maintain collection authority, while the final 25% would be reappropriated for Council use.
The final 25 percent would be reappropriated for Council use to support public art initiatives and residential entryways, particularly in neighborhoods lacking homeowners associations to maintain signage or for areas currently without neighborhood markers.
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while the final 25% would be reappropriated for Council use. He proposed using those funds to support public art initiatives and enhance residential entryways throughout Reynoldsburg, particularly in neighborhoods lacking homeowners' associations to maintain signage or for areas currently without neighborhood markers.
City Attorney Shook stated that the city needs to update legislation to include short-term rentals in the bed tax, explaining that the state previously maintained a very narrow definition of what a hotel was before expanding that definition.
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Attorney Shook stated that the hotel tax, or bed tax, is a tax they are allowed to do because the State has given them permission to do so. When the state first permitted cities to do this bed tax, they had a very narrow definition of what a hotel was and then quite a few years ago they expanded that definition and the City now needs to update legislation to include that expanded definition. They would now like to include short-term rentals in this bed tax.
Shook stated that 50 percent of the reappropriation to the Community Improvement Corporation occurs if it is active, which the city defines as having held at least one meeting in the preceding 12 months.
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Attorney Shook stated that 50% of the reappropriation to the CIC occurs if it is active and the City defines active as having held at least one meeting in the preceding 12 months.
Development officials intend to begin in January 2027 to establish grant guidelines and evaluate funding levels, supported by approximately $20,000 in startup money already budgeted.
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They would like to hit the ground running in January 2027 so they can begin planning and creating guidelines for the CIC and review where funding stands at that point.
Development officials intend to begin in January 2027 to establish grant guidelines and evaluate funding levels, supported by approximately $20,000 in startup money already budgeted.
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Director Meyer stated they do have a small amount of startup money allocated for this in the current budget, approximately $20,000.
During committee review, Councilmember Louis Salvati expressed support for reviving the development corporation, noting that earlier community discussions had advanced to funding considerations before falling apart.
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Councilmember Salvati stated that a few years ago there were meetings discussing the creation of a CIC, and it got up to the point of considering funding, but then it seemed to fall apart. He stated that he was happy to see this brought back into discussion.