County of Monterey Transient Occupancy Tax Increase (10.5% to 12.5%)
Monterey County · Monterey County · November 3, 2026
The question on your ballot
To fund critical County of Monterey services, including programs to improve street, water and sewer infrastructure maintenance; repair potholes; enhance emergency services; update libraries, parks and recreation facilities; improve healthcare and job development programs; and reduce homelessness, shall the County of Monterey increase its existing Transient Occupancy Tax paid only by hotel/lodging guests in the unincorporated area from 10.5% to 12.5% providing approximately $7,600,000 annually to be spent locally, until ended by voters?
In plain language
Measure E would raise Monterey County's hotel tax, called the Transient Occupancy Tax. Only guests staying in hotels or other lodging pay this tax. It applies in the parts of the county that are not inside a city. The rate would go from 10.5% to 12.5%. The money would be spent locally on county services. The ballot question lists roads, water and sewer systems, potholes, emergency services, libraries, parks, health care, job programs, and reducing homelessness. The higher rate would last until voters end it. A YES vote raises the tax to 12.5%. A NO vote means the tax is not raised.
Fiscal impact
Raises the hotel tax in unincorporated areas from 10.5% to 12.5%, expected to bring in about $7,600,000 a year, until voters end it.
Official ballot arguments
Filed for the official voter guide by each side, printed as submitted.
The official arguments will appear here once both sides’ arguments are on file.
What supporters and opponents say — outside sources (not official ballot arguments)
Statements by campaigns, officials and news coverage, quoted with attribution and linked to the original. VoterDecoder did not write them and does not endorse either side.
Supporters say
No public statements in favor were found.
Opponents say
No public statements against were found.