Measure O: O – City of Westminster, Westminster City Services Measure

In plain language

Measure O would raise Westminster's hotel tax, which is called the transient occupancy tax. Hotel and motel guests who stay 30 days in a row or less pay this tax on their room rent. The rate would go from 8% to 12%. The money would go into the city's general fund, where it could be used for any lawful city purpose. Examples named by the City Council include fire, paramedics, police, 911 response, parks, homelessness, and unsafe driving. An independent accountant must audit the tax money each year. The higher rate would last until voters end it. A YES vote raises the hotel tax to 12%. A NO vote means the rate is not raised.

Fiscal impact

The hotel tax rate would increase from 8% to 12% of room rent. This would provide approximately $452,000 a year in new money for the city until voters end it.

Impartial analysis

City of Westminster Measure O The City of Westminster currently imposes an 8% transient occupancy tax on transients (hotel/motel guests) who occupy a hotel in Westminster for 30 consecutive days or less. This tax is commonly referred to as the City’s “hotel tax. ” Measure O is an ordinance that increases the rate of the hotel tax to 12%. The hotel tax is collected by the hotel operator (or their agent) from guests based on the rent charged by the hotel operator. The hotel operator then remits the collected taxes to the City. Proceeds of the hotel tax are deposited in the City’s general fund and available for any lawful municipal purpose. The City Council has identified the following as examples of services funded though the general fund: fire, paramedic, police, 911 emergency response; disaster preparedness; keeping public areas safe/clean; addressing homelessness; maintaining parks; and addressing speeding/unsafe driving. Proceeds of the tax must be audited annually by an independent certified public accountant, and the report of that audit is a public record. Measure O does not change the definitions that currently apply to the hotel tax. For purposes of the hotel tax: “Hotel” means “any lodginghouse, hotel, motel, roominghouse, dormitory or public or private club containing guest rooms for lodging strangers or travelers, advertising or held out as a place where sleeping or rooming accommodations are furnished to the public. ” “Rent” means “the consideration charged, whether or not received, for the occupancy of space in a hotel valued in money, whether to be received in money, goods, labor or otherwise, including all receipts, cash, credits and property and services of any kind or nature, without any deduction therefrom whatsoever. ” To be adopted, this measure requires the approval of a majority of the voters casting ballots on the measure. The measure was placed on the ballot by the City Council of the City of Westminster. A YES vote is a vote to increase the rate of the Hotel Tax to 12%. A NO vote is a vote to not increase the rate of the Hotel Tax. /s Scott E. Porter, City Attorney

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.