San Leandro, California, Hotel Tax Increase, Measure PP (November 2016)
| Measure PP: San Leandro 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 Alameda County, California ballot measures City tax on the ballot |
| See also |
| San Leandro, California |
A hotel tax measure was on the ballot for San Leandro voters in Alameda 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 14 percent. |
| A no vote was a vote against increasing the city's hotel tax from 10 percent to 14 percent. |
Election results
| Measure PP | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 20,463 | 68.92% | ||
| No | 9,229 | 31.08% | ||
- Election results from Alameda County Registrar of Voters
Text of measure
Ballot question
The following question appeared on the ballot:[1]
| “ |
To maintain and enhance the City of San Leandro, with funding that cannot be taken by Sacramento, including: enhancing library programming for children, more space for books, reference materials and public access computers, enhancing parks and infrastructure, and other general City services, shall the City of San Leandro increase the ongoing transient occupancy tax charged to hotel guests from 10% to 14%, providing $200,000 annually, requiring independent citizen oversight, financial audits, and all funds staying in the City of San Leandro. [2] |
” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the San Leandro City Attorney:
| “ |
The San Leandro City Council, by a unanimous vote, placed Measure_ on the November ballot to request that voters adopt an ordinance that would increase the transient occupancy tax (TOT) from 10% to 14%. The transient occupancy tax is imposed on persons staying in or using hotels, motels, inns, or other temporary lodging, and the associated amenities, for periods of 30 days or less. All such places of lodging in the City must collect the tax from users and remit the tax to the City. Currently, the San Leandro Municipal Code imposes a transient occupancy tax rate of 10% of the room rental rate. Other cities in the region, such as Oakland and San Francisco, have TOT rates of 14%. If Measure is passed by the voters, it would increase the City's TOT to 14%. The tax would be a general tax that the City estimates could generate approximately $200,000 in revenue the proceeds of which could be used for any legal municipal purpose. The tax would be ongoing. California Constitution, Article XIII(C), Section 2(b) requires that an increase to a general tax must be approved by a majority vote of the electorate. A "yes" vote is a vote to adopt the ordinance allowing the City to increase the transient occupancy tax imposed upon users of hotels, motels, inns or other temporary lodging, and all of the associated amenities, within the City from 10% to 14%. A "no" vote is a vote against adopting the ordinance. [2] |
” |
| —San Leandro City Attorney[3] | ||
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:[3]
- Pauline Russo Cutter, Mayor, City of San Leandro
- Lawrence Allphin, Jr., Vice President, San Leandro Downtown Association
- Dan Dillman, Historical BAL Theater Owner
- Evelyn J. Gonzalez, School Board Trustee
Arguments in favor
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in favor of the measure:[3]
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Vote YES on Z—San Leandro’s hotel tax measure. Protect property values and quality community services, WITHOUT taxing San Leandro’s residents or property owners.
Sacramento politicians take $12,000,000 annually from San Leandro. Funding generated by Measures X, Y and Z replaces this funding, giving San Leandro taxpayers LOCAL control over LOCAL funds for LOCAL needs. NO funds can be taken by Sacramento politicians. NO money raised from Measures X, Y and Z will be used for administrator salaries. YES on X, Y and Z are fiscally accountable. All three measures require independent citizen oversight, mandatory financial audits, and yearly reports to the community to ensure that money is spent as promised. Voting YES on X, Y and Z protects San Leandro property values by maintaining quality services, parks, open space and safe neighborhoods, all WITHOUT RAISING YOUR TAXES. Join a unanimous City Council and San Leandro’s police officers, firefighters, teachers, neighborhood community leaders and business leaders in voting YES on X, Y and Z![2] |
” |
Opposition
Opponents
The following individuals signed the official argument against the measure:[3]
- Terry Floyd, Treasure, Libertarian Party of Alameda County
- Marilou Amon, General Manager (Interim)
- Francis Leidy, Business Owner
Arguments against
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in opposition to the measure:[3]
| “ |
City Leaders claim this tax doesn’t affect any San Leandro residents, since it is only paid by customers of local hotels and short-term rentals. The proposal will raise the current transient occupancy tax from 10% to 14%, which is certainly a disincentive for tourists to book accommodations here. Oakland currently imposes an identical 14% tax (the highest in Alameda County), but has much greater hotel capacity, and a major airport to support. Emeryville’s tax is only 12% while tourists who book a hotel room anywhere in Contra Costa County pay just 10%. Hayward’s transient occupancy tax is even lower (only 8.5%). This new tax doesn’t make San Leandro look very competitive at all. The “sharing economy” has launched an entirely new business model, complicating the traditional hospitality industry with a new, radically decentralized marketplace. Uber and Lyft disrupted the monopoly taxicab business by allowing anyone with a car to provide a valuable service for lower rates — often undercutting even public transit fares. Similarly, websites like AirBnB and VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner) allow residents to rent spare rooms, boats, and sometimes even their entire houses to visitors without having to operate a commercial hospitality business, like a hotel or bed and breakfast. The “fiscal emergency” excuse used to justify the last two sales tax measures is no longer valid. City Manager Chris Zapata reported in June that San Leandro’s financial situation is robust and healthy, which begs the question of why all these new taxes are even necessary. Increased competition tends to drive prices downward, but increased taxation has exactly the opposite effect! Please vote NO on the hotel tax hike. Why should the out-of-towners who visit San Leandro and use our 911, streets, parks and open space be given a free ride from contributing their fair share to these services? They shouldn’t! FACT: Voting YES on PP simply maintains the services you rely on, without raising your taxes. FACT: Measure PP is NOT a tax on your home or property. For years, San Leandro hotel/lodging guests have paid a “transient occupancy tax” on hotel rooms. This type of tax is only paid by hotel or lodging guests when they spend the night locally, nearly all of whom are visitors or travelers stopping in San Leandro to shop or attend our events. San Leandro residents and property owners are NOT taxed. FACT: By increasing hotel room costs slightly, YES on PP ensures that hotel guests and visitors to San Leandro pay their fair share for the local services they use. By law, Measure P P provides local funding that cannot be taken by Sacramento, ensuring Local Control. Sacramento politicians can’t touch this money! The revenue generated by voting YES on PP and Measures NN & OO will be used exclusively for maintaining vital San Leandro services such as: providing shelter for abused women/children; fixing potholes and repairing city streets; improving 911 emergency response times; enhancing safety net programs for homeless and at-risk adults & children; and providing essential improvements to the San Leandro Library. Join a unanimous Mayor and City Council and San Leandrans from every neighborhood: Vote LOCAL by voting YES on PP, NN, and OO![2] |
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Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the governing officials of San Leandro, California.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms San Leandro Local hotel tax. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Alameda County, "November 8, 2016 General Election Local Measures," accessed October 12, 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.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Alameda County, "Measure PP," accessed October 28, 2016
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