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Stanton, California, Measure B, Hotel Tax Increase (November 2019)
| Measure B: Stanton Hotel Tax Increase |
|---|
|
| The basics |
| Election date: |
| November 5, 2019 |
| Status: |
 Approved
|
| Topic: |
| Local hotel tax Expires in: No expiration |
| Related articles |
| Local hotel tax on the ballot November 5, 2019 ballot measures in California Orange County, California ballot measures |
| See also |
| Stanton, California |
A measure proposing to increase the hotel tax was on the ballot for Stanton voters in Orange County, California, on November 5, 2019. It was approved.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of increasing the existing hotel tax from 8 percent to 12 percent to raise revenue for municipal services. |
| A no vote was a vote against increasing the hotel tax rate to 12 percent, thereby maintaining the existing 8 percent tax. |
Election results
|
Stanton Measure B |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
|
|
1,916 | 63.63% | ||
| No | 1,095 | 36.37% | ||
-
- Results are officially certified.
Text of measure
Ballot question
The ballot question was as follows:[1]
| “ |
To improve general City services, such as police, fire and emergency response, parks and youth/ senior services, and street repair, shall a measure amending the Stanton Municipal Code to increase the Transient Occupancy Tax rate from 8% to 12%, providing approximately $ 250,000 annually, until ended by voters, and applying the tax to all rent charged to hotel guests, including by online travel and short term rental companies, for transient occupancy of any hotel, be adopted?[2] |
” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Stanton City Attorney:
| “ |
The City of Stanton (“City”) currently imposes a transient occupancy tax (“TOT”), also generally known as a “hotel” tax, at the rate of eight percent (8%) of rent paid in order to occupy a room or space in a hotel or similar lodging (referred to herein as a “hotel”). This TOT is imposed upon occupancy of a room or hotel space within the City, for dwelling, lodging, or sleeping purposes, for a period of thirty (30) consecutive days or less. The TOT currently provides approximately $500,000.00 annually to the General Fund to pay for general City services and programs. Measure B was placed on the ballot by the Stanton City Council and, if approved by a majority of Stanton voters, will amend the Municipal Code to increase the maximum TOT rate from eight percent (8%) to twelve percent (12%) of the rent paid by guests in order to occupy a room or space in a hotel. The tax rate set by Measure B can be increased or decreased by the City Council, provided it does not exceed the voter-approved maximum rate. It is anticipated that this rate increase will generate an additional $250,000.00 in new revenues. Measure B would also update the Code to clarify that the tax applies to the full rent paid by the hotel guest for occupancy, whether payment is made directly to a hotel operator or to a third-party “rental agent” for booking purposes (i.e., online travel companies and online short term rental companies). Measure B would be a “general tax”. All revenue from this tax would be deposited into the City’s General Fund and could be used for general City operations and services, including police enforcement, emergency response, parks, youth and senior services, and street repair. Pursuant to State Law, a “general tax” requires approval by a majority of the City’s voters voting at an election. A “yes” vote on Measure B will approve the TOT tax rate increase. A “no” vote on Measure B will not approve the TOT tax rate increase.[2] |
” |
| —Stanton 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:[4]
- Tom Dominguez,
- Kantibhai Patel,
- Andrew Marques, and
- Jimmy Ta.
Arguments in favor
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in favor of the measure:[5]
| “ |
Measure B will not increase taxes on Stanton residents. This only applies to motel guests visiting our city. Raising the motel visitor tax is a fair way to recover increased service costs to Stanton taxpayers because of the rising demand for public safety at motels in our community. The City' s motel visitor tax rate has not increased in over 40 years and will continue to be among the lowest of our neighboring cities. The $ 250,000 provided by this voter supported tax will improve public safety for our residents and businesses. Measure B will help keep Stanton' s budget balanced. A YES vote on Measure B will keep Stanton a "Community of Pride and Forward Vision."[2] |
” |
Opposition
Opponents
The following individual signed the official argument against the measure:[6]
- Kevin Carr.
Arguments against
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in opposition to the measure:[7]
| “ |
This is a tax on residential homes, mobile homes, apartments, and any building a person can stay in. It's not just for hotels. This tax could put a " black mark" on your home hurting the resale value. How would you like to explain to a potential buyer that there is a special Stanton city tax if they want to rent it out! This could decrease your selling price by tens of thousands of dollars! Vote no on Measure B. Renting your home could cost you $4,000 a year in Stanton city taxes or more than $20,000 over a 5 -year period! Renting out a bedroom to make a few extra bucks could cost you $1,000 a year in Stanton city taxes or more than $5,000 over a 5 -year period! If you are elderly or disabled and use a service to hire live-in helpers you might have to pay $1,000 in Stanton city taxes every year. If you are renting a room it could cost you $1,000 a year in Stanton city taxes. Do you want the city inspecting your entire home because you are renting out a room? Look, the city' s finances are not your problem. Bottom line is that our city council spent beyond their means again. Giving them more of your money is not going to solve their problem. Don' t you feel like our city council is holding us hostage? Seems like they are always threatening to cut our safety services if we don' t give in to their demands. How many times have they done this? Is this how you want to live your life with constant threats from City Hall! [2] |
” |
Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the Stanton City Council.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ City of Stanton, "Resolution No. 2019-31," accessed September 19, 2019
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ City of Stanton, "Impartial Analysis of Measure B," accessed September 19, 2019
- ↑ City of Stanton, "Arguments in Favor of Measure B," accessed September 19, 2019
- ↑ City of Stanton, "Arguments in Favor of Measure B," accessed September 19, 2019
- ↑ City of Stanton, "Arguments Against Measure B," accessed September 19, 2019
- ↑ City of Stanton, "Arguments Against Measure B," accessed September 19, 2019
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