This article may be cited to as the Hotel-Motel
Operator's Occupation Tax.
As used in this article, unless the context
requires otherwise, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
BOOKS OR RECORDS
Those books or records to be kept pursuant to the Hotel Operator's
Occupation Tax Act (65 ILCS 5/8-3-14) as subsequently amended from
time to time.
HOTEL or MOTEL
Any structure in which the public may, for a consideration,
obtain living quarters, sleeping, or housekeeping accommodations for
a limited period of time. The term includes but is not limited to
inns, motels, tourist homes or courts, lodging houses, rooming houses,
bed-and-breakfasts and apartment buildings.
OCCUPANCY
The use or possession, or right to use or possession, of
any room or rooms in a hotel or motel for living quarters, or for
sleeping or housekeeping accommodations. Occupancy does not mean the
use or possession or right to the use or possession of any room or
rooms in a hotel or motel for purposes of displaying merchandise,
samples, etc., for the purpose of holding meetings, for use as office
space, or for private dining purposes.
OPERATOR
Any person operating a hotel or motel.
PERMANENT RESIDENT
Any person who occupies or has the right to occupy any room
or rooms in a hotel for at least 30 consecutive days.
PERSON
Any natural individual, firm, partnership, association, joint-stock
company, limited liability company, joint venture, public or private
corporation, receiver, executor, trustee, syndicate, association,
club, business trust, institution, agency, municipal corporation,
district or other political subdivision, contractor, supplier, vendor,
vendee, operator, user or owner, or any officer, agents, employees
or other representative acting either for himself or for any other
person in any capacity, any other entity recognized by law as the
subject of rights and duties, or any other representative appointed
by order of any court. The masculine, feminine, singular or plural
is included in any circumstances.
RENT or RENTAL
The consideration received for occupancy, valued in money,
whether received in money or otherwise, including all receipts, cash,
credits, and property or services of any kind or nature.
ROOMS or ROOM
Any living quarters, sleeping or housekeeping accommodations.
One room offered for rental with or without an adjoining bath shall
be considered as a single room.
Whenever any person shall fail to pay any tax
as herein provided, the Village's attorney shall, upon the request
of the Village President, bring or cause to be brought an action to
enforce the payment of said tax in behalf of the Village in any court
of competent jurisdiction.
If the Village President, after a hearing held
by or for him, shall find that any person has wilfully avoided payment
of the tax imposed by this article, he may suspend or revoke all Village
licenses held by such tax evader. The owner shall have an opportunity
to be heard at such hearing to be held not less than five days after
notice of the time and place of the hearing to be held, addressed
to him at his last known place of business. Pending notice, hearing
and finding, any license of which he may be possessed may be temporarily
suspended. Any suspension or revocation of any license shall not release
or discharge the owner from his civil liability for the payment of
the tax nor from prosecution for such offense.
All proceeds resulting from the imposition of
the tax under this article, including penalties, shall be paid into
the treasury of the Village.