Measure M: Increase Hotel Visitors Tax

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League of Women Voters of California Education Fund

Orange County, CA

November 2, 2004 Election

Measure M
Increase Hotel Visitors Tax
City of Santa Ana
Majority Approval equired

28445 / 56.9% Yes votes ...... 21563 / 43.1% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Information shown below: Impartial Analysis | Arguments |

Shall the City Council receive approval to raise the City's Hotel Visitor Tax (HVT) 2% from the current rate of 9% to11 %.?

Impartial Analysis from City Attorney

The City Council has placed on the ballot a measure seeking voter approval to raise the City's Hotel Visitor Tax (HVT) 2% from the current rate of 9% to 11 %. Persons staying in a hotel or motel in the City for 30 days or less pay the HVT. This measure proposes a general tax as defined by article XIIIC of the California Constitution (Proposition 218). Accordingly, it will take effect upon approval by a majority of the City's voters. The revenues derived from the HVT shall be placed in the City's general fund and may be used for any lawful purpose by the City.

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Arguments For Measure M

We urge you to vote YES on Measure M. This tax will be paid for by tourists who stay in Santa Ana hotels ... not Santa Ana residents. Measure M will provide badly needed funds for police, fire and other essential city services. Measure M authorizes an increase in the Hotel Visitors' Tax by 2%. Measure M will help ensure that the hotel visitors pay their fair share for city services. We have studied this issue and want to give you the facts about the Hotel Visitors' Tax. The Hotel Visitors' Tax in Santa Ana provides essential funds to run city services. Santa Ana's public safety professionals support Measure M because it will provide nearly $1 Million per year to the City of Santa Ana... money that will mean safer streets and greater security. Santa Ana currently has a 9% Hotel Visitors' Tax that each hotel visitor pays. This is added on to each hotel bill at the end of a tourist's stay. Almost every community in America has this tax. Our Hotel Visitors' Tax is currently lower than most surrounding cities. For example, tourists staying in Anaheim pay a 15% visitors tax. Measure M will increase the Santa Ana Visitors' Tax to 11%, still lower than neighboring Anaheim or Garden Grove. We have studied this issue and are firmly convinced that a 2% increase will not harm hotel businesses or tourism. In fact, by maintaining our city services, tourists are more likely to stay here. We must be ready to meet new challenges. These are difficult times for our country and our community. We need to make sure that our local government can respond in any emergency situation or crisis. Measure M will help keep Santa Ana ready to respond to any emergency situation. REMEMBER, THIS TAX IS PAID FOR BY TOURISTS ... NOT SANTA ANA RESIDENTS. WE URGE YOU TO VOTE YES ON MEASURE M.

(No arguments against Measure M were submitted)

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Created: December 15, 2004 13:32 PST
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