By Howard Packowitz

NORMAL – The Normal Town Council is imposing a six percent tax on short-term housing rentals despite the pleas from a former mayoral candidate to reject the idea.

Council members voted unanimously Monday night to levy a tax for those who reserve rooms on websites like AirBnb. Hotel patrons are also assessed a six percent tax.

Marc Tiritilli, who’s considering another run for mayor in two years, said the council is favoring corportate interests ahead of residents who are trying to make ends meat.

“It’s been well established since before our constitution that people have a right to engage in commerce. It’s not a privilege,” said Tiritilli.

Council member Jeff Fritzen, frequently at odds with Tiritilli, believes it is a privilege to operate a business in a single-family neighborhood.

“In my single-family neighborhood, someone determines that they want to rent out their home. That’s not what I bought into when I moved into a single-family-zoned neighborhood, and so I think it is a privilege,” said Fritzen.

Councilman R.C. McBride considered the tax a way to treat everyone more fairly.

“People have been renting rooms, spare rooms, for a long, long time, for decades. That’s not what has changed. What has changed is the technology,” said McBride.

The council was also unified in its approval of raising the minimum age to buy tobacco or electronic spoking devices from 18 to 21.

First-time violators will face a $50 fine for businesses that sell the product to underage smokers. The maximum fine will be $500. The elected leaders credit Illinois State University students proposing the ordinance, prompting Councilman Scott Preston to question why the issue came to a vote when students were away for Thanksgiving.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]