FORESTBURGH – Last month, the Forestburgh Town Board solidified a number of annually recurring fees for home businesses, with one of those fees being set at $2,000 for short-term rentals (STR). This set amount was met with pushback from STR owners and operators at their Town Board meeting on February 1.

According to town officials, reasoning for the fee’s amount including the town’s coverage of necessary inspections of properties that operate as STR’s by Town Building Inspector Glenn Gabbard. Addressing the board with their concerns was duo STR owners, Joseph and Amy Lorino.

The Lorinos, who have lived in Forestburgh since 1990 and began renting out a portion of their property since 2017, argued that the $2,000 per-unit fee is not justifiable in consideration of the square footage of their property and taxes already being paid toward the town. Additionally, they noted their concern of the lack of consultation or cost analysis with STR owners and other members of the community. 

According to Deputy Supervisor Steve Budofsky, there are about 30 STR’s currently in the town.

In their request before the board, the Lorinos said they don’t dispute the need for such a fee, but asked that the amount be repealed and replaced with a more reasonable and equitable one. The duo noted their communications on the matter with other towns in the county, as well as the Sullivan County Visitors Association (SCVA).

“Forestburgh is a small town with limited access to tourism,” Amy Lorino said. “We fill that need.”

Town Board member Karen Ellswieg noted that the fee would go towards assisting the town in other ways financially, not just for covering the building inspection costs.

However, Town Board members noted their willingness to revisit the fee’s amount with input from STR owners, including the Lorino’s. Supervisor Dan Hogue Jr. motioned to reconsider the fee, as well as suspend the fee untl further notice, which was a shared sentiment from other members of the board. Interest in a committee headed by board member Karen Ellswieg and Deputy Supervisor Budofsky was generated as the two noted their intentions to meet with those who would be affected by the fee. 

The topic is expected to be revisited at their next meeting on March 7 after members of the town board have had a chance to gather correspondence with STR owners in town.

In other news

In addition to discussing the future of the Short-Term Rental annual fee, the Town Board of Forestburgh also welcomed a new Deputy Town Clerk, Karen Leash, who will work under Town Clerk Teresa Collins.

Supervisor Hogue also announced that there is a planned Town Supervisors’ meeting before the Sullivan County Legislature on February 15 at the Government Center in Monticello. Hogue noted that a number of Supervisors from around the county are looking to talk on revisiting sharing county sales tax with the municipalities.

“They keep saying now is not the time,” Hogue said, “but it’s not been the time for 13 years.”