Measure F: Transient Occupancy Tax

In plain language

Measure F is a Mountain View city measure. It is about the hotel tax, called the Transient Occupancy Tax. Hotel and short-term rental guests pay this tax. A YES vote lets the City Council raise it from 10% up to 15%. This could raise up to $5,200,000 a year. It would continue until voters end it. The money would go to fixing potholes, streets, and sidewalks. It would improve police, fire, and 911 response. It would support affordable housing. It would add parks and fund other city services. The spending would face independent audits. A NO vote keeps the hotel tax at 10%.

Fiscal impact

The tax rate would rise from 10% to as much as 15%. It could raise up to $5,200,000 each year. It lasts until voters end it.

Impartial analysis

CITY ATTORNEY’S IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS OF MEASURE ____ Measure “_” was placed on the ballot by a unanimous vote of the Mountain View City Council. This measure asks the voters to approve an ordinance authorizing the City Council to increase the Transient Occupancy Tax to a maximum rate of 15%. Measure “_” must be approved by a majority of voters. The City established a Transient Occupancy Tax in 1967. Chapter 33 of the Mountain View City Code requires customers who stay in a hotel in the City for less than thirty (30) days to pay a Transient Occupancy Tax, also known as hotel tax. The operators of these lodgings collect this tax as part of the room bills and pay the tax to the city. A hotel includes any hotel, inn, tourist home or house, motel or similar lodging. This hotel tax also applies to short-term rentals. The voters last approved an increase to the hotel tax in 1991. The current Transient Occupancy Tax rate is 10%. The majority of the cities in Santa Clara County have Transient Occupancy Taxes with tax rates ranging between 12% and 15.5% All revenue generated by this tax would be placed in the City’s general fund and could be used for any general governmental purpose. Examples of projects performed for general governmental purpose include, but are not limited to, repairing potholes, streets and sidewalks, improving police, fire and 911 emergency response services, supporting affordable housing, adding new parks and providing general government services. Based on historical Transient Occupancy Tax revenues, the city estimates each 1% increase in Transient Occupancy Tax could generate an additional $1,100,000.00 in funding revenue for general governmental purposes each year. A “yes” vote would amend the Mountain View City Code to authorize the City Council to increase the Transient Occupancy Tax rate up to a maximum of 15%. A “no” vote would reject the proposed ordinance, and the Transient Occupancy Tax rate would remain at 10%. The above statement is an impartial analysis of Measure ___. If you desire a copy of the ordinance or measure, please call the City Clerk’s office at [phone number omitted] and a copy will be mailed at no cost to you.

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.