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Measure H Transient Occupancy Tax City of Burlingame Majority Approval Required
See Also:
Index of all Measures |
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League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Pass:
3,977 /
79.9% Yes votes ......
1,002 /
20.1% No votes
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Results as of Dec 29 12:09pm, 100.0% of Precincts Reporting (22/22) 27.8% Voter Turnout (77,340/277,759) |
| Information shown below: Impartial Analysis | Arguments | | ||||
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To preserve funding for general city services, including maintaining public safety, recreation, planning and library services, and repairing and improving city streets and infrastructure, such as the Broadway/Highway 101 interchange, shall the City of Burlingame approve an ordinance amending the Burlingame Municipal Code to increase the transient occupancy tax rate from ten (10%) per cent to twelve (12%) per cent on the rent charged to hotel guests within the City?
The City estimates that the increase of the transient occupnancy tax from 10% to 12% would generate approximately $2 million dollars per year. Because the transient occupancy tax is a general tax and not a specific tax, the additional revenue generated would be deposited into the City's general fund for general governmental purposes, such as police, fire, library, recreation, planning, and administration services, and the repair and improvement of city streets and other infrastructure, including the Broadway/Highway 101 interchange. Because the additional tax revenue would be used for general City governmental purposes, a simply majority vote of those persons voting on the measure is required to approve the measure. And, because the tax would be adopted by a vote of the people, the tax rate could not be increased unless approved by another vote of the people. A YES vote approves the measure. A NO vote rejects the measure.
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| Arguments For Measure H | Arguments Against Measure H |
| Like other cities in California, Burlingame is looking for additional sources of revenue to compensate for losses due to the declining economy, including reduced income from sales taxes and auto sales. The city is at the mercy of state legislators who plan to "borrow" $1.1 million from city coffers to balance California's budget. At the same time, legislators enact mandates that increase costs to cities each year.
Burlingame residents and visitors to our city are used to receiving excellent services and enjoying top-notch facilities. But the city's ability to continue meeting these expectations is in jeopardy. To increase revenue, Measure H proposes raising Burlingame's transient occupancy tax (TOT) from 10 percent to 12 percent, effective January 1, 2010. Burlingame hotels collect the tax from hotel guests as part of their room charge. The tax has not been increased since 1991. Other cities in San Mateo County are proposing increasing their TOT to 12 percent at the same time. San Francisco currently charges 14 percent plus an additional tourism business improvement district assessment in some areas. Increasing the TOT by 2 percent in Burlingame would generate approximately $2 million more per year for city services. The additional revenue would be deposited into the city's general fund for general government purposes, such as police, fire, library, recreation, planning and administration services, and repairs and improvements to city streets and other infrastructure. Approval of Measure H would ensure that the thousands of hotel visitors who travel our streets, frequent our restaurants and stores, enjoy our beautiful shoreline trails and open space, and rely daily on our police, fire, and medical services would pay their fair share. Please vote Yes on Measure H to help Burlingame continue to offer the services and facilities residents and visitors expect. /s/ Ann Keighram, Mayor /s/ Cathy Baylock, Council Member & Former Mayor /s/ Terry Nagel, Council Member & Former Mayor /s/ Rosaline O'Mahony, Council Member & Former Mayor /s/ Jerry Deal, Council Member
| No Arguments submitted
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Created: December 29, 2009 12:09 PST
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