Los Gatos, California, Hotel Tax Increase, Measure T (November 2016)
| Measure T: Los Gatos Hotel Tax Increase |
|---|
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| The basics |
| Election date: |
| November 8, 2016 |
| Status: |
 Approved
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| Topic: |
| Local hotel tax Expires in: Never |
| Related articles |
| Local hotel tax on the ballot November 8, 2016 ballot measures in California Santa Clara County, California ballot measures City tax on the ballot |
| See also |
| Los Gatos, California |
A hotel tax increase measure was on the ballot for Los Gatos voters in Santa Clara County, California, on November 8, 2016. It was approved.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of increasing the city's hotel tax from 10 percent to 12 percent. |
| A no vote was a vote against this proposal to increase the city's hotel tax by from 10 percent to 12 percent. |
Election results
| Measure T | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 12,698 | 82.04% | ||
| No | 2,779 | 17.96% | ||
- Election results from Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters
Text of measure
Ballot question
The following question appeared on the ballot:[1]
| “ |
To maintain quality of life and small town character in Los Gatos by enhancing traffic safety and flow; maintaining 911 response, police services, parks, trails, creeks, playground equipment and restrooms; repairing potholes and Town facilities; beautifying Downtown; providing general services, shall Los Gatos increase by 2% the short-term rental tax paid only by hotel/lodging guests, raising approximately $350,000 to $400,000 per year with published annual audits, fiscal oversight, and all funds spent locally for Los Gatos?[2] |
” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Los Gatos Town Attorney:
| “ |
Measure T would (1) increase the Town's Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) on short-term rentals of 30 days or less, such as hotel rooms, from 10% to 12% as of February 1, 2017; and (2) clarify that the TOT is calculated based upon the total rent paid by the guest, not on a discounted rate that may be paid to a hotel operator by online travel companies or other third-party booking agents. Measure T must be approved by a majority of the votes cast on the ballot proposition. TOT is often called a hotel tax and is paid by "transients" for the privilege of renting hotel rooms or other lodging in the Town on a short-term basis of 30 days or less. The Town's TOT also applies to short-term rentals rented through rental operators and third-party booking services, including online travel companies such as Expedia, Orbitz, Airbnb, and Vacation Rental by Owner (VRBO), etc. TOT is calculated as a percentage of the cost of the room or lodging. If adopted, Measure T will adopt Ordinance 2255 and amend portions of Chapter 25 Article III of the Los Gatos Municipal Code to increase the Town's TOT imposed on the rent paid for short-term rentals from 10% of the rent paid to 12% and to apply the TOT to the total rent paid by the transient for the short-term rental. Measure T would also amend certain definitions in Chapter 25 Article III of the Los Gates Municipal Code to address online travel companies and other third-party bookings. TOT is a general tax; the revenue raised from the tax goes into the Town's general fund and may be used for any legal governmental purpose. The general fund pays for Town services such as traffic safety, 911 response, police services, parks, trails, creeks, playground equipment and restrooms, repairing potholes, beautifying Downtown and providing general municipal services to the public. An increase in the TOT from 10% to 12% is estimated to generate an additional $350,000 to $400,000 in tax revenue per year. If this measure does not pass, the TOT will continue to be collected at its current rate of 10%. Ordinance 2255 was approved for placement on the ballot as Measure T by the Town Council of the Town of Los Gatos on August 2, 2016. If adopted, Measure T will continue in effect until repealed by the Town Council or Town voters.[2] |
” |
| —Los Gatos Town Attorney[3] | ||
Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the governing officials of Los Gatos, California.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Los Gatos Local hotel tax. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Santa Clara County, "List of Local Measures Presidential General Election November 8, 2016," accessed October 3, 2016
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Santa Clara County, "E110-Measure T," accessed October 23, 2016
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