Jun 24, 2009 4:51 pm US/Eastern
'Camping Tax' Coming To New Hampshire Campgrounds
NEWFIELDS, N.H. (WBZ) ―
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Great Bay Camping site in Newfields, N.H.
WBZ
Like many families, Ron and Claire Bogan love the great outdoors. But, lately it's not just the rain that's put a damper on their summer camp experience. For the first time, New Hampshire has just passed a 9 percent room and meal tax on all local campgrounds.
"We are in a fixed income, yeah that going to hurt," Ron Bogan said.
David Edgerly manages Great Bay Camping in Newfield N.H. He says with the poor economy, campsites barely have enough money to get through the season. A 9 percent meal and room tax increase could put many campgrounds out of business.
"We charge $2,300 for a season now. It's another $225 for the taxes. That will wipe them out basically," Edgerly said.
Typically, room and meal tax just applied to places like hotels. Edgerly says his place is a camp site not a hotel.
"We don't provide a room. We provide a parking spot. It just seems they are trying to double dip. We are going to be analyzing it to see if it's worth us keeping this open," Edgerly said.
Ron and Claire have camped at Great Bay for 27 years. They say a 9 percent tax increase in these tough times is not fair.
"It's going to hurt, but I've been here for a while. I'm not going to pick up and haul off just because of it," Bogan said.
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