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Smart Voter
Santa Barbara County, CA November 6, 2012 Election
Measure Z2012
Transient Occupancy Tax
City of Solvang

Ordinance - Majority Approval Required

Pass: 1462 / 57.88% Yes votes ...... 1064 / 42.12% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Results as of Dec 4 3:18pm, 100.0% of Precincts Reporting (3/3)
Information shown below: Impartial Analysis | Arguments |

Shall the General Transient Occupancy Tax on visitors to hotels and motels be increased from 10% to 12%?

Impartial Analysis from City Attorney
If approved by the voters, Measure Z2012 would amend the Solvang Municipal Code to increase the tax paid by temporary occupants of rooms two percentage points. This measure would set the transient occupancy tax rate at twelve percent (12%). At this rate, for example, a stay in a hotel $100 in value would generate a tax of twelve dollars. The tax is not imposed upon the hotel or motel owner but is imposed upon the temporary, or "transient", occupant. The owner of the hotel or motel does have a duty to both collect the tax from the occupant and to remit the tax to the City of Solvang.

This measure requires all proceeds of the tax to be deposited into the City's General Fund to be used for such general municipal governmental purposes as the City Council shall direct. Among such purposes are police services, tourism related services, public bathroom construction and maintenance, street and sidewalk construction, maintenance and repair, pothole repair, and storm drain construction, maintenance and repair. It is estimated that this increase will generate Five Hundred Thousand ($500,000.00) or more additional revenue on an annual basis from the visitors that will pay the tax.

The transient occupancy tax increase proposed by this measure will only become effective if approved by a majority of those electors voting on the measure.

A YES vote approves the measure. A NO vote rejects the measure

Roy A. Hanley City Attorney, City of Solvang

 
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Arguments For Measure Z2012 Arguments Against Measure Z2012
Tourism is Solvang's major industry and provides over half of the city's revenue for administration, services and maintenance. This industry provides many of the services that we, the residents of Solvang enjoy. The major tourism revenue comes from the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT). This tax is collected from guests by all inns, hotels, motels and bed and breakfast owner/operators and is paid directly to the City of Solvang. Since 1996 the TOT in Solvang has been a 10% tax on the cost of a guestroom, which adds up to over 2.5 million dollars in annual revenue to the general fund. Measure Z2012 will increase Solvang's TOT to 12% of the cost of a guest room resulting in a projected increase of $500,000 to the City annually. The purpose of increasing TOT from 10% to 12% is to: Offset decreased revenue from sales tax Offset decreased revenue from property tax Continue City funding of public safety, the library, parks and recreation and tourism. Promote Tourism. VOTE YES FOR MEASURE Z2012 This is an investment in Solvang with NO cost to Solvang residents (unless staying in a hotel room).

The information in this argument for Measure Z2012 is true to the best of our knowledge.

__________________________ _________________ Hans Duus, Mayor Pro Tem Date

________________________ ________________ Tara Wood, Council Member Date

no formal arguments against have been submitted


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Created: December 17, 2012 13:46 PST
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