League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	San Mateo County, CA June 5, 2012 Election
	Measure U Transient Occupancy Tax County of San Mateo Majority Approval Required Fail: 53,431 / 46.8% Yes votes ...... 60,711 / 53.2% No votes See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure U

Arguments Against Measure U

Visitors come to San Mateo County from all over the world and throughout California. They come for our incredible natural landscapes, to do business with many of the international companies located here, and to stay in proximity to both Silicon Valley and San Francisco. Every city in the county that hosts visitor serving hotels imposes a Transient Occupancy Tax paid by these visitors to support the services that make their visits pleasant and memorable and that also benefit local residents, such as police, fire, parks, libraries, and street maintenance. The County of San Mateo is proposing to increase the local transient occupancy tax in the unincorporated area of the county from a rate of ten percent (10%) to twelve percent (12%), which will bring the county's rate in line with most other local cities. Due to the global economic downturn and the increased pressure on county services for the growing number of residents in need of assistance, an additional $200,000 will provide a modest amount of new revenue to protect critical services provided through our hospital and clinics, public safety services, parks and libraries among many services. Over the past six years San Mateo County has eliminated 500 positions, reduced departmental budgets, consolidated departments, closed county facilities, and negotiated reductions in labor costs to achieve over $70 million in ongoing savings. Despite this progress, San Mateo County continues to rely on reserves to balance our budget. The proposed increase to the transient occupancy tax will be paid primarily by visitors to our county, rather than by residents, but the revenues will stay local. San Mateo County is a wonderful place to live and visit. By voting YES on this measure, local residents will make a contribution toward ensuring it remains so for our residents and visitors alike. /s/ Adrienne J. Tissier, President, San Mateo County Board of Supervisors /s/ Donald A. Horsley, Supervisor, County of San Mateo /s/ Anne E. Campbell, San Mateo County Superintendent of Schools /s/ Lennie Roberts, Environmental Advocate /s/ James P. Fox, Retired District Attorney Rebuttal to Arguments For Don't Be Fooled - Not One Dime for Police, Fire, or Schools The proponents of this 20% tax hike are simply wrong. They repeatedly make the false claim that Measure U will benefit "police, fire, parks, libraries, and street maintenance" and protect "our hospital and clinics, public safety services, parks and libraries." Measure U Guarantees Nothing for Police, Fire, or Schools The truth is that there is absolutely nothing in this tax scheme to ensure that the politicians use the tax dollars for essential services like police, fire, and schools that deserve funding. If we have to raise taxes, we should insist on controls to ensure the money is spent on what matters most - education, public safety, and job creation. Measure U Allows Politicians to Spend More Money on Themselves Measure U lets politicians and bureaucrats do whatever they want with the money raised by this massive tax hike. It can be spent on anything - including cars, perks, salaries, and pensions for politicians. Measure U is a Massive Tax Hike with No Oversight and No End in Site Just like there's no way to ensure the money from Measure U will end up funding what matters, there's no end date on this 20% tax hike. Measure U has no requirements to evaluate how badly it hurts our economy or to study how badly the money is being wasted. /s/ Michelle Rosas, Small Business Owner /s/ John Roeder, President, Silicon Valley Taxpayers' Association /s/ Juan Dominguez, Small Business Manager /s/ Kelly Hunt, Regional Vice-President, Enterprise Rent-a-car Company of San Francisco /s/ Jim McGuire, Best Western Grosvenor General Manager

Politicians Dreamed Up This Tax Scheme Behind Closed Doors This massive tax hike measure was put on the ballot at the last minute by politicians and bureaucrats, not by the people of San Mateo County. Nothing Guaranteed for Police, Fire, or Schools There is nothing in this tax scheme to force the politicians to use the money for essential services like police, fire, and schools that deserve funding. If we're going to raise taxes, we need controls to ensure the money is spent on what matters most - education, public safety, and job creation. Politicians Free to Waste our Tax Dollars This initiative has no guidelines whatsoever to prevent politicians from wasting the money raised by this massive tax hike. It can be spent on anything - including cars, perks, salaries and pensions for politicians. An Eternal Tax Hike There is no end date on this new tax - it goes on forever - without any requirement to evaluate the harm it's causing to our jobs and economy, or to see if the money is being wasted. Fewer Jobs and More Pain for Our Small Businesses This massive increase in our hotel tax will cause tourism losses. Tourism generates $8.3 billion for our region and supports 67,000 local jobs - it is one of our most critical economic engines. A massive 20% increase in our hotel tax means fewer jobs and more problems for small businesses already facing tough times. San Mateo County Can't Afford This Huge Tax Hike Right Now San Mateo County already imposes some of the highest taxes in all of California and the entire nation. We're still emerging from a severe economic crisis, gas prices are high, small businesses are suffering, and too many families are struggling to make ends meet. The last thing we need right now is a 20% tax increase. /s/ Michelle Rosas, Small Business Owner /s/ Jim McGuire, Best Western Grosvenor General Manager /s/ Juan Dominguez, Manager at a small business /s/ Kelly Hunt, Regional Vice-President, Enterprise Rent-a-Car Company of San Francisco /s/ Clifton Clark, SF Airport Marriott General Manager Rebuttal to Arguments Against Measure U was placed on the San Mateo County ballot following two public and duly advertised hearings by your local elected representatives. There were no "closed doors." All of the revenue derived from this measure will support existing services provided by the County of San Mateo as required by law, including a broad range of health and human services, the county hospital, public safety services as well as county parks and libraries. Those organizing opposition to this measure are not from San Mateo County and have no vested interest in the local services this minor tax will support. Every city in the county that hosts visitor serving hotels imposes a Transient Occupancy Tax paid by visitors to our county that support services that make their visits pleasant and memorable. Of the 15 local cities that impolse such a tax, nine do so at a rate of 12%. This measure will simply bring the county's rate in line with nine other local jurisdictions. Opponents offer no tangible evidence that this modest 2% hotel tax increase will reduce the number of visitors coming to our county as the same rate increase has had no significant impact in nine San Mateo County communities that charge the same rate already. Opponents are attempting to confuse local voters. Measure U represents a 2% increase in tax paid by visitors to a few hotels. Don't be deceived by unproven and misleading claims. Vote YES for San Mateo County by voting YES on Measure U. /s/ Donald A. Horsley, Supervisor, County of San Mateo /s/ Adrienne J. Tissier, President, San Mateo County Board of Supervisors /s/ Anne E. Campbell, San Mateo County Superintendent of Schools /s/ Georgette Sarles, Georgette's of Westlake /s/ Michael D. Nevin, Executive Director

Full Text of Measure U

https://www.shapethefuture.org/elections/2012/june/documents/Transient%20Occupancy%20Tax%20-%20ResolutionBallot%20Measure%20Question%20and%20Full%20text.pdf