Like most local governments in California, the City of Mission Viejo receives
a portion of the sales and property taxes paid by its residents to provide
police services, street maintenance, 40 public parks, a Library, City Hall, the
Murray community center and the Montanoso and Sierra recreation
centers. While it is the residents of Mission Viejo who pay for these
services and amenities, all that come to visit our beautiful master-planned
community receive benefit.
Cities nationwide use the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT), also known as
the Hotel Bed Tax, as a means for having visitors help pay their fair share of
the services and amenities they use while staying in town. Since
incorporation in 1988, the Mission Viejo TOT rate has been 8%. A recent
rate survey of the 34 cities in Orange County revealed a TOT rate range as
high as 15% and as low as 6%, with the median TOT rate of 10%.
In fiscal year 2005-06 the TOT in Mission Viejo is expected to generate
approximately $575,000 per year. A modest increase to 10% TOT would
result in an additional $143,000 per year. This additional money to the City
could be used toward future roadway traffic improvements, proposed facility
expansions or to fund recent police patrol increases to maintain Mission
Viejo's exclusive distinction as California's safest city.
An increase to the TOT will raise much-needed revenue without raising
taxes on our residents, and fairly ensures that visitors to Mission Viejo pay a
rate consistent with what Mission Viejo residents pay when visiting other
cities. To continue to effectively and efficiently maintain the high levels of
service residents have come to expect, and to be consistent with other
municipalities in Orange County, we urge you to approve a 10% TOT rate
by voting "YES."
Anyone can come up with reasons to spend more and justify why they need
to spend more money, in government it just seems that coming up with the
justifications is the endemic addiction.
This fiscal year we, the city council, voted to add police officers in our
contract with the Orange County Sheriff's Department. Public safety is our
No. 1 priority and the duty of local government, and Mission Viejo is
consistently one of the safest cities of our size. Our city is not in dire need of
more tax revenue - we just need to live within our means.
Fellow taxpayers, death and taxes are guaranteed, so let's make life as
enjoyable as possible and do our part to hold the line on tax increases.
This is your opportunity to tell the city council to live within its means.
Say Yes to fiscal restraint. Just Vote NO!
| Do you ever wonder why we constantly hear the same old tax and spend
arguments? It's because the nature of government and the propensity to
rationalize more spending haven't changed.
The proponents of tax and spend may offer the classic "we're not talking
about a lot of money" argument, but they don't understand that we are
talking about basic principles and the insatiable appetite of those in
government who spend tax dollars.
A little bit of life, a little bit of thought, a little bit of work; all of these things are
what it takes to make money. Giving to or spending money on your children
or grandchildren is a way of giving a little bit of your life to your loved ones,
we should not chip away at the ability of people to do so.
Forget about the socialist bureaucrat arguments and what other cities do.
This is your opportunity to tell the city council to live within its means.
Say Yes to fiscal restraint. Just Vote NO!
Mission Viejo's TOT hotel bed tax rate has never been increased. Don't be
misled that we are talking about increasing taxes to spend more. The truth is
this will help to maintain our current service levels. An increase in TOT will
ensure that visitors staying in our hotels will pay their fair share toward
municipal services.
The bottom line is this measure will not cost residents one penny, it simply
brings Mission Viejo's rate in line with the current median TOT rate of 10%
for Orange County and will help maintain what we already have.
We love Mission Viejo and the lifestyle it offers just as you do; beautiful
landscaped medians, well maintained streets, public parks and the safest
California city in 2003. Responsible government like Mission Viejo spends
tax dollars on these municipal services that residents not only expect but
deserve.
We have made a conscious decision to live the California promise and it
didn't just happen, rather it was master planned and paid for by the residents
who live here. Yet when visitors come to Mission Viejo, they enjoy all of our
amenities and services without having to shoulder a fair share of the cost to
provide them. The basic principle is that it is fair, reasonable and equitable
to approve a modest increase in the TOT hotel bed tax so that visitors will
help pay for the basic municipal services they enjoy while in our wonderful
community. Vote YES because you are worth it!
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