Long Beach, California, Measure B, Hotel Tax (March 2020)

Long Beach Measure B
Election date March 3, 2020
Topic Local hotel tax
Status a Approved
Type Referral	Origin Lawmakers
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A hotel tax measure was on the ballot for Long Beach voters in Los Angeles County, California, on March 3, 2020. It was approved.

A "yes" vote supported authorizing the city to increase its local hotel tax from 6% to 7%, thereby generating an estimated $2.8 million in general fund revenue per year.

A "no" vote opposed authorizing the city to increase its local hotel tax, thereby continuing the existing tax hotel tax rate of 6%.

A simple majority was required for the approval of Measure B.

Election results

Long Beach Measure B
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		59,190	59.21%
No		40,775	40.79%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Text of measure

Ballot question

The ballot question was as follows:

“

To provide funding for student arts education programs, community arts, music, cultural programs and organizations, local museums and theaters, and the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center, and maintain other general fund programs shall a measure be adopted increasing Long Beach’s general transient occupancy (hotel bed) tax rate from 6% to 7%, paid for by hotel/motel guests, generating approximately $2.8 million dollars annually, until ended by voters, requiring audits and local control of funds?

”

Impartial analysis

The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Long Beach City Attorney:

“ Voter approval of this measure would amend the Long Beach Municipal Code to increase the City's general purpose transient occupancy tax ("TOT" or "hotel bed tax") by 1%, from 6% to 7%. The TOT is a tax charged to guests of hotels, motels, and similar short-term lodgings who stay for a period of 30 days or less. Hotel operators or their agents collect the tax when guests pay for their rooms and then pay it monthly to the City. The City has collected a TOT since 1962. The measure, which was placed on the ballot by the Long Beach City Council, would amend Section 3.64.035 of the Long Beach Municipal Code. This Section currently imposes a general purpose TOT at the rate of 6% upon guests of hotels and other transient accommodations within the City, the revenues from which are deposited in the City's General Purpose Fund and may be used for general City services. The general purpose TOT was separately adopted and is in addition to the City's special purpose TOT (LBMC section 3.64.030), which is also currently imposed at the rate of 6%, for the City's "Special Advertising and Promotion (SAP) Fund," which is dedicated to support the advertising and promotion of the City. The proposed Measure would not affect the special purpose TOT in any way. If this Measure is adopted, the combined total TOT paid by a hotel guest would increase from 12% to 13% of the hotel's room rate. A 1% increase in the general purpose TOT is estimated to generate $2.8 million in additional annual revenue. This is a general tax which can be spent to fund general City services. The TOT cannot be increased further without voter approval. A "yes" vote favors increasing the general purpose TOT to 7%. A "no" vote opposes the increase and maintains the TOT at 6%. A majority of "yes" votes is required for the measure to pass. ”

Full text

The full text of the measure is available here.

Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing local ballot measures in California

This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the Long Beach City Council.

See also

Local measures

• Local measures in 2020
• Local hotel tax on the ballot
• City tax on the ballot
• Los Angeles County measures

California

• March 3, 2020 measures in California
• Local ballot measures, California
• Long Beach, California

News and analysis

• State and local preemption conflicts
• Measures advancing national agendas

External links

Suggest a link

• Search Google News for this topic
• Los Angeles County Elections Office website