Marquette residents could see visitors start picking up part of the tab for roads, public safety and other services strained by tourism, after the City Commission unanimously voted Monday, Aug. 10, to table a "tourist tax" resolution and schedule a final version for its Aug. 31 meeting.

The commission tabled the amended resolution at its Monday meeting, with a final version expected at the Monday, Aug. 31 meeting, WZMQ 19 reported.

Under current law, the costs tourism generates for infrastructure and city services fall entirely on Marquette County residents. The resolution would shift some of that burden to visitors.

City Manager Karen Kovacs said the resolution would "allow the city commission and city staff to talk freely about possible tourism tax and advocate at the state level for that ability to have some revenue generating capabilities that would address some tourism issues, and not put that burden on our residents."

The move ties into a broader push at the state level. Michigan House Bill 5140, the Essential Services Tax Enabling Act, would let cities and villages levy a local accommodations fee of up to 3% on hotel and short-term rental stays, subject to local voter approval. An Airbnb-funded analysis published in October 2025 estimated the bill could generate more than $20 million annually for Michigan local governments.

Marquette Mayor Jessica Hanley voiced support for HB 5140 in October 2025, saying the costs of keeping the city running fall on residents while visitors benefit from the same services.

The discussion has been building across the region for months. Ishpeming business owner Jeremy Johnson raised the idea of a lodging tax at the Marquette County Board of Commissioners meeting on May 19. County Commissioner Fred Benzie echoed the sentiment at the board's July 21 meeting, saying "tourism impact is great on our community. It would be nice to capture some monies and put them back into the community."

The bill was introduced in 2025 with bipartisan sponsorship from House Finance Committee Chairman Mark Tisdel, R-Rochester Hills, and Rep. Stephen Wooden, D-Grand Rapids. Its current status in the Legislature is unclear.

No individual commissioner votes were recorded beyond the unanimous tally. The full text of the amended resolution has not been released.

The final version of the tourist tax resolution is scheduled for the Marquette City Commission meeting on Monday, Aug. 31. Residents can attend or contact the commission at Marquette City Hall, 300 W. Baraga Ave.