Leaport CVB says delinquent innkeepers tax approaches six figures as county pursues collection
June 23, 2026 | Kingsford Heights, LaPorte County, Indiana
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At the June 23 meeting of the Leaport County Convention and Visitors Bureau Board, staff warned that one lodging property that continues to operate has fallen years behind on innkeepers-tax remittances and now faces county enforcement measures. Brett (staff member) said the county treasurer has issued a tax warrant, fees and sheriff involvement have been added, and the total owed is “approaching six figures.”
The bureau’s report said the treasurer’s office forwarded paperwork to the prosecuting attorney’s office to explore criminal options related to trust-tax handling. "That money is not a bill that's coming out of their pocket. It's money that was collected from consumers that is supposed to go directly to the county," Brett said, describing the obligation as a trust tax and the reason for enforcement steps.
Why it matters: innkeepers-tax collections directly fund local tourism distributions; staff said the overdue account is not included in the bureau’s May numbers and that collection would materially improve the year-to-date result if recovered. Brett told the board the bureau expects a payment within four to eight weeks but emphasized uncertainty given the property owner is out of county and prior payment arrangements were not honored.
Board financial overview and recent trends: the treasurer presented May 2026 statements showing total accounts payable of $105,150.77 and payroll of $77,893.31, with a combined cash-basis total of $183,548. Separately, staff reported the bureau was up $119,658.91 in innkeepers-tax receipts through May on the state distribution side and said May state distributions were up 17.12% compared with the prior period; county-distribution figures remained preliminary and were still trickling in at the time of the meeting.
Staff stressed that enforcement was a last resort. "Our goal is not to be heavy-handed or to close these properties down. Our goal is to help them," Brett said, describing earlier attempts to arrange payments and the treasurer’s office decision to let prior payment plans expire after they were not followed.
Next steps and board direction: staff said they would continue to monitor county enforcement action and report any incoming payments. The board took no additional formal action beyond accepting the financial report; motions to approve the minutes and the president’s and treasurer’s reports were passed by voice votes earlier in the meeting.
The bureau will return to the board with updated collection status; staff said any recovered funds would be reflected in future monthly statements.
The bureau’s report said the treasurer’s office forwarded paperwork to the prosecuting attorney’s office to explore criminal options related to trust-tax handling. "That money is not a bill that's coming out of their pocket. It's money that was collected from consumers that is supposed to go directly to the county," Brett said, describing the obligation as a trust tax and the reason for enforcement steps.
Why it matters: innkeepers-tax collections directly fund local tourism distributions; staff said the overdue account is not included in the bureau’s May numbers and that collection would materially improve the year-to-date result if recovered. Brett told the board the bureau expects a payment within four to eight weeks but emphasized uncertainty given the property owner is out of county and prior payment arrangements were not honored.
Board financial overview and recent trends: the treasurer presented May 2026 statements showing total accounts payable of $105,150.77 and payroll of $77,893.31, with a combined cash-basis total of $183,548. Separately, staff reported the bureau was up $119,658.91 in innkeepers-tax receipts through May on the state distribution side and said May state distributions were up 17.12% compared with the prior period; county-distribution figures remained preliminary and were still trickling in at the time of the meeting.
Staff stressed that enforcement was a last resort. "Our goal is not to be heavy-handed or to close these properties down. Our goal is to help them," Brett said, describing earlier attempts to arrange payments and the treasurer’s office decision to let prior payment plans expire after they were not followed.
Next steps and board direction: staff said they would continue to monitor county enforcement action and report any incoming payments. The board took no additional formal action beyond accepting the financial report; motions to approve the minutes and the president’s and treasurer’s reports were passed by voice votes earlier in the meeting.
The bureau will return to the board with updated collection status; staff said any recovered funds would be reflected in future monthly statements.
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