Supes Spar Over Hotel Tax Increase
Measure O — the November ballot item asking voters to increase the hotel bed tax in the county’s unincorporated regions from 10 percent to 12.5 percent — is a “sensible proposal” that would only be felt by visitors and could yield an extra $1.9 million for the county to spend on public safety, social services, and infrastructure, argued Supervisor Steve Lavagnino (on behalf of three of his colleagues) in recently released ballot language. Supervisor Peter Adam countered it would force tourists elsewhere and criticized his coworkers for championing this after denouncing Measure M, the failed June initiative that would have pegged millions of dollars annually to maintenance spending. If a majority of voters okay Measure O, the new rate would take effect in January.
