Smart Voter
San Francisco County, CA November 3, 1998 General
Measure H
Continuation of 2% Hotel Tax Surcharge
City of San Francisco

180,129 / 83.60% Yes votes ...... 35,233 / 16.30% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Infomation shown below: Summary | Official Information | Arguments |
Shall the City continue to collect the 2% hotel tax surcharge?
Summary Prepared by League of Women Voters of San Francisco:
Ordinance Placed on the ballot by the Board of Supervisors by a vote of 10-0. (Absent: Teng)

PRINCIPAL PROVISIONS: Proposition H would allow the City to continue the current hotel tax rate of 14%. This ballot measure is required in response to provisions of State Proposition 218 passed in November 1996. Proposition 218 requires voter approval of any taxes passed or increased after January 1, 1995. Because the hotel tax was increased in August 1996, this tax increase needs voter approval for continuation after November 8, 1998. The City has charged a base tax of eight percent on the rental of hotel rooms since 1986. In 1993 additional taxes called "surcharges" were passed increasing the hotel room tax to 12 %. These taxes are not affected by Proposition 218. However, in 1996, the City imposed an additional two percent surcharge on the hotel tax. The money raised by the 1996 surcharge goes into the General Fund and can be used for any city purpose. This two percent surcharge needs to be re-approved by voters to be continued after November 1998. Propositions H would amend Part III, Article 7 (Tax on Transient Occupancy of Hotel Rooms), of the San Francisco Municipal Code by adding Section 502.6-1, which would allow the continuation of this two percent surcharge.

Official Sources of Information
Arguments Submitted to the Department of Elections

Full Text of Argument In Favor

Full Text of Argument Against

  Official Information

City & County of SF Voter Information

Nonpartisan Information

League of Women Voters

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Created: February 16, 1999 18:55
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