Sharon Voters Reject Lodging Tax Increase

Led by the Saphire Inn's owners, Sharon voters defeated a proposal increasing Sharon's 4 percent lodging tax to the maximum-allowed 6 percent Monday night.

Jerry and Roberta Saphire told voters at Sharon's fall special town meeting that the increase proposed by Finance Director William Fowler would hurt their business.

Only the , the and the EconoLodge would be affected by the local room occupancy excise tax increase on hotels, motels and inns, Roberta Saphire told voters in the auditorium.

"I never knew of a tax that helped a business," said Roberta Saphire, who said her family has owned their business for 34 years.

The board of selectmen and the finance committee both recommended the increase.

The increase would be "in addition to the 5.7 percent lodging tax imposed by the state," and would be "consistent with rates adopted by neighboring towns," the FinCom wrote in its recommendation to voters.

Fowler said afterward the increase would have started on July 1, 2012, the start of the next fiscal year.

But Jerry Saphire questioned "how much is going to be raised."

He also said the increase would prompt fewer visitors, and by extension fewer shoppers, coming to Sharon.