Santa Barbara County Hotel Tax, Measure O (November 2014)

What's on your ballot?

Find out with Ballotpedia's Sample Ballot Lookup tool

# Santa Barbara County Hotel Tax, Measure O (November 2014)

From Ballotpedia

Jump to: navigation, search

Voting on taxes

Ballot measures
By state
By year
Not on ballot
| Local

City taxes
County taxes
School taxes
Property taxes
Sales taxes
Income taxes
Other taxes

## Contents

* 1 Election results
* 2 Text of measure
* 2.1 Ballot title
* 2.2 Fiscal impact
* 3 Support
* 3.1 Supporters
* 3.2 Arguments in favor
* 4 Opposition
* 4.1 Opponents
* 4.2 Arguments against
* 5 See also
* 6 External links
* 7 Additional reading
* 8 Footnotes

A Santa Barbara County Hotel Tax, Measure O ballot question was on the November 4, 2014 election ballot for voters in Santa Barbara County, California. It was defeated.

Measure O would have increased the county's transient occupancy tax, know as a hotel tax, from 10 percent to 12.5 percent. At 10 percent, the tax brought in $7.5 million in revenue in the 2013-2014 year. It was estimated by the county auditor that Measure O would have provided an increase in this revenue stream by $1.9 million per year. The county's hotel tax, money from which goes into the Santa Barbara general fund, is the county's third largest revenue stream, after property taxes and sales taxes.[1]

The county board of supervisors put the tax on the ballot with a four against one vote. Supervisor Peter Adam was the sole dissenter.[2]

## Election results

Santa Barbara County, Measure O

Result| Votes| Percentage
d No| 61,110| 58.17%
Yes|  43,947|  41.83%

Election results via: Santa Barbara County Elections Office

## Text of measure

### Ballot title

The official ballot title for Measure O:[1]

“  |

Ordinance amending Section 32-12 of the Santa Barbara County Code to increase the transient occupancy tax rate to 12.5%[3]

| ”

|
|

### Fiscal impact

The following fiscal impact statement for Measure O was prepared by the county auditor-controller:[1]

“  |

In 1963, local governments were granted the power to tax the privilege of occupying a room or living space in a hotel, motel, inn tourist home, or other lodging when rented for 30 days or less. The Transient Occupancy Tax (also commonly referred to as TOT or hotel bed tax) is collected by the lodging operator in the unincorporated area of the County then remitted to the County Treasurer for deposit as a general revenue to the County General Fund.

The Measure would increase the existing County of Santa Barbara unincorporated area Transient Occupancy Tax rate from 10% to 12.5%. The current transient occupancy tax rate of 10% of the daily rent generated $7.5 million in fiscal year 2013-2014 for the County. If this measure is approved the tax rate would increase to 12.5% and is estimated to generate an additional $1.9 million annually. the total of the tax collected changes on an annual basis as a result of increases or decreases in lodging rates or lodging occupancy.

The revenue generated by the transient occupancy tax is considered general revenue for the County General Fund. This tax source is the third largest discretionary General Fund tax source, following property taxes and retail sales taxes. This revenue is expended on general County government services and capital needs for public safety, law and justice, health services, public assistance, community resources, public facilities, legislative programs, administrative and general government services. (quote)

| ”

|
|

—Robert W. Geis, Santa Barbara County Auditor-Controller[1]

## Support

### Supporters

The following individuals expressed support of Measure O during a board of supervisors meeting:[2]

* Kathy Janega-Dykes, executive director of Visit Santa Barbara, encouraged the county supervisors to push for a higher hotel tax.
* Mary Harris of the group Visit Santa Ynez Valley, which represents 33 hotels, expressed support of Measure O.
* Joe Armendariz of the Santa Barbara County Taxpayers Association also said the group supported the move.

The four county supervisors that voted to approve Measure O for the ballot were:[1]

* Supervisor Steve Lavagnino
* Supervisor Salud Carbajal
* Supervisor Doreen Farr
* Supervisor Janet Wolf

### Arguments in favor

In general, supporters of hotel taxes argued that taxing for transient occupancy is a great way to provide revenue without taking money out of the pockets of local taxpayers or the local economy.[2]

Supporters of the Measure O tax argued that the hotel tax in surrounding areas is higher than the county's 10 percent and that Measure O would "level the playing field" among the hotels and motels in the entire valley. Supporters also pointed towards cities that have raised their hotel taxes without damage to tourism or the number of visitors per year.[1]

Writing on behalf of the four county supervisors that approved this tax, Supervisor Steve Lavagnino argued that Measure O is a reasonable increase from 10 percent to 12.5 percent to be paid only by visitors of Santa Barbara County, rather than local residents or business owners. He also stated that the small increase in taxes could allow for important improvements to services throughout the whole county.[1]

## Opposition

### Opponents

Supervisor Peter Adam was the sole dissenter when the county supervisors voted on whether or not to ask voters for this tax increase.[2]

The following individuals signed and submitted arguments in opposition to Measure O:[1]

* Victor Tognazzini, a farmer
* Gregory Gandrud, Chairman of the Santa Barbara County Republican Party
* David R. Stockdale, a businessman
* Douglas J. MacKenzie, M.D.

### Arguments against

In general, opponents of hotel taxes argued they could damage the tourism business of the city or county by boosting hotel prices and giving a competitive advantage to hotels in other places.[2]

Adams refused support of the tax increase unless the revenue was earmarked for a special tax purpose rather than going into the general fund. A special tax would have required a two-thirds (66.67 percent) supermajority vote at the polls for approval. Adams held the opinion that, without a specific purpose, "the money gets thrown in the black hole of the general fund." He went further to suggest that economic development should be the goal of a special tax increase. He said, "What will make a huge difference is making a commitment to spend the money on economic development. If it was up to me I would propose a special tax and make a commitment with the money."[2]

Opponents also argued that California has the highest state sales tax and the second highest gasoline tax in the nation and that the county should avoid taxing its residents even more. Critics insisted that the county needs reform to encourage businesses and jobs, pension reform and reasonable public employee salaries rather than new taxes that could cripple businesses.[1]

## See also

* Hotel taxes in California
* Local hotel tax on the ballot
* Santa Barbara County, California ballot measures
* November 4, 2014 ballot measures in California

## External links

| Suggest a link

|

* Santa Barbara County Elections Office website

## Additional reading

* Santa Barbara Independent, "Supes Spar Over Hotel Tax Increase," August 6, 2014
* Noozhawk, "County Supervisors Considering Bed-Tax Increase for Unincorporated Areas," March 31, 2014

## Footnotes

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Santa Barbara County Elections Office, "Ballot Measure information document," archived August 15, 2014
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 'Noozhawk, "County Supervisors Vote to Put Bed-Tax Increase Measure on November Ballot," April 22, 2014
3. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

v • e

Local ballot measures in California

Counties|

Alameda • Alpine • Amador • Butte • Calaveras • Colusa • Contra Costa • Del Norte • El Dorado • Fresno • Glenn • Humboldt • Imperial • Inyo • Kern • Kings • Lake • Lassen • Los Angeles • Madera • Marin • Mariposa • Mendocino • Merced • Modoc • Mono • Monterey • Napa • Nevada • Orange • Placer • Plumas • Riverside • Sacramento • San Benito • San Bernardino • San Diego • San Francisco • San Joaquin • San Luis Obispo • San Mateo • Santa Barbara • Santa Clara • Santa Cruz • Shasta • Sierra • Siskiyou • Solano • Sonoma • Stanislaus • Sutter • Tehama • Trinity • Tulare • Tuolumne • Ventura • Yolo • Yuba

* * *

Analysis|

Laws governing local ballot measures in California • Ballot measure information on California county websites • Costs of administering local elections • Required approval rates for local California ballot measures

* * *

2022|

April 12 •

* * *

2021|

March 2 • May 4 • June 8 • June 29 • August 31

* * *

2020|

March 3 • April 14 • May 5 • June 2 • June 23 • August 25 • November 3

* * *

2019|

February 26 • March 5 • March 19 • March 26 • April 9 • May 7 • June 4 • August 27 • November 5

* * *

2018|

January 23 • January 30 • February 27 • March 6 • June 5 • November 6

* * *

2017|

January 10 • February 28 • March 7 • March 28 • April 4 • April 11 • May 2 • May 9 • May 16 • June 6 • July 11 • August 22 • August 29 • October 17 • November 7

* * *

2016|

January 26 • February 23 • March 8 • April 12 • April 19 • May 3 • June 7 • November 8

* * *

2015|

January 6 • February 24 • March 3 • March 10 • March 24 • April 14 • May 5 • May 19 • June 2 • June 23 • August 25 • September 1 • October 6 • November 3 • November 17

* * *

2014|

February 4 • February 11 • March 4 • April 8 • May 6 • June 3 • July 8 • September 2 • November 4

* * *

2013|

March 5 • March 12 • April 2 • April 9 • May 7 • May 21 • June 4 • June 11 • June 18 • July 2 • July 16 • July 23 • August 27 • November 5

* * *

2012|

February 7 • March 6 • March 13 • April 6 • April 10 • May 1 • May 8 • June 5 • July 10 • August 28 • September 18 • November 6

* * *

2011|

January 25 • March 1 • March 8 • April 5 • April 12 • May 3 • June 7 • June 21 • July 12 • August 30 • November 8 • November 15 • November 22

* * *

2010|

January 12 • February 2 • February 23 • March 2 • March 9 • April 13 • May 4 • May 25 • June 8 • June 15 • June 22 • July 13 • August 24 • August 31 • September 21 • November 2

* * *

2009|

January 13 • February 24 • March 3 • March 10 • April 21 • May 5 • May 19 • June 2 • June 9 • June 16 • June 23 • June 30 • July 21 • August 4 • August 25 • August 28 • November 3 • November 17 • December 8 • December 15

* * *

2008|

February 5 • March 4 • April 8 • June 3 • June 24 • July 22 • August 26 • November 4

* * *

2007|

March 6 • May 7 • November 6

* * *

2006|

March 7 • April 11 • May 2 • June 6 • November 7

* * *

Political topics|

Advisory votes • Binding arbitration • Business taxes • City charters • Election and voting laws • Gambling • Gann overrides • Hotel taxes • Incorporations • Immigration • Jurisdictional boundaries • Labor • Marijuana • Marijuana taxes • Mottos • Municipal bonds • Parcel taxes • Pensions • Project-Labor Agreements • Recall • Red light cameras • Rent control • Salaries of local officials • Sales taxes • School bonds • Term limits • Utility user taxes • Vehicle registration taxes • Zoning and land use

* * *

v • e

Local taxes on the ballot in California

Business taxes • Hotel taxes • Marijuana taxes • Oil and gas • Parcel taxes • Real estate transfer taxes • Sales taxes • Utility user taxes • Vehicle registration taxes

Retrieved from "https://ballotpedia.orghttps://ballotpedia.org/index.php?title=Santa_Barbara_County_Hotel_Tax,_Measure_O_(November_2014)&oldid=8471557"

Categories:

* Defeated general local, 2014
* Local ballots, 2014
* California 2014 local ballot measures
* County tax, California, 2014
* Local hotel tax, California, 2014
* Certified past date local ballot measures