In the Nov. 3 general election, Scotts Valley voters will consider Measure G, a proposed hotel tax increase. It is an increase to Scotts Valley’s hotel tax to raise money for city services and needs more than 50% of the vote to win.
Shall the City of Scotts Valley adopt an ordinance amending amending Section 3.24.030 of the Municipal Code raising the transient occupancy tax from 11% to 13%?
The measure would increase the city’s transient occupancy tax charged on stays at hotels and motels 13% from 11%. For example, a $100 stay at a hotel currently incurs a $11 tax. Under measure G, that tax would be $13. The tax does not apply to stays 30 days or longer.
Measure G is estimated to raise $300,000 annually.
Measure G is a general tax, meaning the money goes into the city’s General Fund and can be used for any city purpose, including salaries, debt payments, roads and parks.
In an official ballot argument, city leaders wrote that the share of property taxes allocated to the city isn’t enough to sustain city services like road paving, park upkeep and the police department. They wrote that the tax will fall on visitors passing through the city, rather than residents.
No arguments in opposition to Measure G were filed with the Santa Cruz County Elections Department.