Healdsburg, California, Hotel Tax Adjustment, Measure S (November 2016)
| Measure S: Healdsburg Hotel Tax Adjustment |
|---|
|
| The basics |
| Election date: |
| November 8, 2016 |
| Status: |
 ApprovedMajority required: 66.67% |
| Topic: |
| Local hotel tax Expires in: Never |
| Related articles |
| Local hotel tax on the ballot November 8, 2016 ballot measures in California Sonoma County, California ballot measures County tax on the ballot |
| See also |
| Healdsburg, California |
A hotel tax measure was on the ballot for Healdsburg voters in Sonoma County, California, on November 8, 2016. It was approved.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of levying a 2 percent transient occupancy tax and increasing the maximum hotel tax rate from 12 percent to 14 percent. |
| A no vote was a vote against levying a 2 percent transient occupancy tax and increasing the maximum hotel tax rate from 12 percent to 14 percent. |
A two-thirds (66.67%) vote was required for the approval of this measure.
Election results
| Measure S | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 3,814 | 68.42% | ||
| No | 1,760 | 31.58% | ||
- Election results from Sonoma County Elections Office
Text of measure
Ballot question
The following question appeared on the ballot:[1]
| “ |
To increase, improve and preserve the City’s affordable housing stock, shall the City of Healdsburg be authorized to levy an ongoing 2% transient occupancy tax (or “hotel” tax) on persons who occupy hotel rooms for 30 days or less, increasing the maximum hotel tax rate from 12% to 14%, and providing an estimated minimum $530,123 annually, with all funds of the additional tax restricted to affordable housing services and programs?[2] |
” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Healdsburg City Attorney:
| “ |
The Healdsburg City Council, by a unanimous vote with one member absent, has placed Measure S on the November ballot to request that voters adopt an ordinance that would increase the City’s transient occupancy tax (“TOT”) from the existing maximum 12% to add a 2% increment for affordable housing purposes. The TOT is imposed on persons staying in or using hotels and other temporary rental lodging for periods of 30 days or less. Such places of lodging must collect the tax from users and remit it to the City. Currently the Healdsburg Municipal Code imposes a 10% TOT for Community Services activities and an additional 2% TOT to be allocated to the General Fund upon reauthorization by the City Council every other year. Because Measure S would restrict the new 2% increment for specific affordable housing purposes rather than remit it to the General Fund, it is a special tax requiring approval of 66.7% of those voting. The funds would be used to increase, improve and preserve the City’s affordable housing stock. Collection of the new TOT increment, if approved, would be ongoing and is estimated to provide a minimum of $530,123 annually for affordable housing services and programs. Eligible income categories for such services and programs would be as defined in Municipal Code Section 20.28.310, as amended from time to time. A “yes” vote is a vote to adopt the ordinance amending the Healdsburg Municipal Code to increase the TOT by 2% for affordable housing services and programs. A “no” vote is a vote against adopting the ordinance. Measure S will be approved if it receives at least 66.7% of “yes” votes.[2] |
” |
| —Healdsburg City Attorney[1] | ||
Full text
The full text of the measure is available here.
Support
Supporters
The following individuals signed the official argument in favor of the measure:[1]
- Thomas Chambers, mayor, Healdsburg
Arguments in favor
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in favor of the measure:[1]
| “ |
Providing housing affordable to working families is a top priority in Healdsburg. The development of affordable housing has been hindered by the State’s dissolution of Redevelopment Agencies in 2011, which eliminated significant funding sources previously used to create affordable housing. Despite the loss of funding, housing remains a topic of concern. Through extensive outreach at over 30 community meetings and workshops over the past 24 months, the community has repeatedly identified the need for more housing affordable to working families in Healdsburg, including State-defined, deed restricted affordable housing for qualified low income families. To address these concerns, the City Council adopted a Housing Action Plan to promote more affordable and diverse housing in Healdsburg. A key recommendation of the Housing Action Plan is to create a dedicated, long-term funding source for affordable housing programs and services to support the provision of deedrestricted affordable housing in our community. If passed by the voters, the 2% increase to the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) would provide a minimum of $530,000 annually, which will be dedicated for the provision of affordable housing programs and services. As new overnight lodging facilities open in the City, TOT revenues should increase allowing for additional opportunities to support affordable housing. The 2% increase is a special tax requiring 66.7% of the votes to pass and the funds cannot be redirected for any other use or purpose. At a time when State and Federal funding is diminishing, these funds would help meet the City’s current and future affordable housing needs by providing financial assistance and services, and creating programs to increase, improve and preserve the City’s rental and for sale housing stock affordable to extremely low, very low, low, moderate, and middle income households. Vote yes on Measure S to dedicate 2% of TOT funds for affordable housing.[2] |
” |
Opposition
Opponents
The following individuals signed the official argument against the measure:[1]
- Timothy Hannan, president, Sonoma County Taxpayers Association
Arguments against
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in opposition to the measure:[1]
| “ |
This new tax increase on hotel guests would raise half a million dollars to help pay for housing for low-income people. The City Council claims that the Governor’s recent dissolution of redevelopment agencies has left the City short of funds for affordable housing. But in fact, Healdsburg and other cities are receiving the same money they were getting for housing. That money is no longer coming in the form of redevelopment agency tax increments, but as part of restored general fund property tax revenue. In other words, while the source of the funding has changed, the amount of the funding has not changed. No new revenues should be required to support affordable housing. Further, how much more of a financial strain can the City put on tourists before they begin to say “Let’s go somewhere else”? Let’s not find out.[2] |
” |
Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the governing officials of Healdsburg, California.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Healdsburg Local hotel tax. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Sonoma County Registrar of Voters, "Consolidated General Election Sample Ballot and Voter Information Pamphlet," accessed November 3, 2016
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
| |||||
