27200 / 59.7% Yes votes ...... 18354 / 40.2% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

This measure seeks voter approval for an increase in the hotel/motel tax rate from 8% to 10% of the rent charged. Under the measure, the Board of Supervisors would retain the authority to reduce the tax or modify administrative provisions relating to the tax without voter approval, but cannot further raise the tax without voter approval. Measure H requires a majority vote of those voting for adoption. The tax increase authorized by the measure would go into effect 10 days after the results of the election are certified to the Board of Supervisors.

The County hotel/motel tax is only levied within the unincorporated area of the County, not within the boundaries of the cities of Placerville or South Lake Tahoe. Similarly, any hotel/motel tax imposed by an incorporated city within the County only applies within the city limits. Therefore, approval of Measure H would not affect lodging rates within, or occupancy tax revenues received by, the cities of Placerville or South Lake Tahoe.

A "yes" vote is a vote to approve the increase in the hotel/motel tax from 8% to 10%.

A "no" vote is a vote against approving the increase in the hotel/motel tax from 8% to 10%.

Louis B. Green County Counsel

We respectfully request your support of Measure "H" which will raise the Hotel/Motel tax in the unincorporated areas of El Dorado County from its current rate of 8% to 10%. This rate would apply to stays of 30 days or less by business travelers, tourists and other guests in our community. This tax is imposed on visitors, not on residents of El Dorado County.

The current rate of 8% is lower than any of the surrounding communities. The City of Placerville is 10%, the City of South Lake Tahoe and the City of Sacramento are 12%. The proposed increase would generate approximately $170,000 of additional revenue annually.

You should support this measure for the following reasons:

• Residents do not pay this tax, yet we get the benefits of the additional revenue to support local needs.

• The funds will pay for "Veterans' Needs", "Parks and Recreation", "Fire Services", "Road Maintenance", "Cultural Arts", "Sheriffs' Deputies", and other services that we use.

• Finally this measure will help promote El Dorado County as a tourist destination location, thus helping local economic development and job creation.

Signors:

On behalf of Friends of Our Community Retired Agricultural Commissioner, Bill Snodgrass

On behalf of the Veterans Commission Doc League

On behalf of the Joint Chambers Commission Dr. Vicki Barber

On behalf of Farm Trails President of Farm Trails, Darrell Bray

Sheriff Jeff Neves

(No arguments against Measure H were submitted)

THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF EL DORADO DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. Amendment of Code. Section 3.28.030 of Chapter 3.28 of Title 3 of the El Dorado County Ordinance Code entitled is hereby amended to read as follows:

3.28.030 Imposed. For the privilege of occupancy in any facility, except a camping site or a space at a privately owned campground or recreational vehicle park, each transient is subject to and shall pay a tax in the amount of eight ten percent (810%) of the rent charged by the operator. The tax constitutes a debt owed by the transient to the county which is extinguished only by payment to the operator or to the county. The transient shall pay the tax to the operator of the facility at the time the rent is paid. If the rent is paid in installments, a proportionate share of the tax shall be paid with each installment. The unpaid tax shall be due upon the transient's ceasing to occupy space in the facility. If for any reason the tax due is not paid to the operator of the facility, the tax collector may require that the tax be paid directly to the tax collector.

Section 2. Subsequent Amendment of Administrative Provisions. Nothing contained in this ordinance or the general laws of the state shall be construed to prevent the Board of Supervisors from amending or repealing in whole or in part, at any time in the future, without requiring a vote of the people, the provisions of Chapter 3.28 of the El Dorado County Ordinance Code in any respect other than an increase in the amount of the tax.

Section 3. Severability. If any part, provision, section, paragraph, clause or word of this ordinance shall be finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction thereof to be invalid, the remainder of this ordinance shall not be affected thereby but shall be severed and given effect, it being the intent of the Board of Supervisors that if it had known that such part, provision, section, paragraph, clause or words was invalid, then it would have enacted all of the remainder of this ordinance notwithstanding such invalidity of the part severed.

Section 4. Effective Date. This ordinance shall not take effect until and unless approved by a majority of the voters voting for and against it at the election on March 2, 2004, and if so approved, will go into effect ten (10) days after the results of such election have been certified to the Board of Supervisors.