This is an archive of a past election.
See http://www.smartvoter.org/ca/rv/ for current information.
LWV League of Women Voters of California Education Fund If you appreciate our service to voters, please consider helping us with a donation.
Smart Voter
Riverside County, CA November 4, 2014 Election
Measure X
Transit Occupancy Tax Increase
City of Blythe
Majority Approval Required

Fail: 836 / 45.56% Yes votes ...... 999 / 54.44% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures
Results as of November 21 7:51am, 100.00%% of Precincts Reporting (4/4)
Information shown below: Impartial Analysis | Arguments |

Shall the City of Blythe increase its transit occupancy tax (TOT) by 3%, to bring its transit occupancy tax to a rate of 13%, for a period of five years?

Impartial Analysis from City Attorney
As declared and reaffirmed by the Blythe City Council, the City continues to face a state of fiscal emergency due to the severe impact of the economic collapse caused by the Great Recession of recent years, as well as the collapse of the housing market, continuing California state takeaways, and insufficient tax revenues to cover government expenses. In response to this fiscal emergency, the City Council is asking the City's voters to vote on Measure "X."

If approved by the voters, Measure "X" would increase the existing Transient Occupancy Tax rate by 3% (from 10% to 13%). Individuals, usually visitors to the City, pay this tax when they stay at any lodging facility within the City such as a hotel or motel. The tax only applies if the individual stays at the lodging facility for less than 30 consecutive days. The tax helps place the financial burden of providing additional local support services, like public safety, street maintenance, and upkeep of the City's parks, on the visitors who contribute to this increased financial burden on the City.

The tax payments are collected from the visitors by the property "operators" who then remit the amounts to the City.

All proceeds of the tax will be deposited into the City's General Fund to be used for all general municipal governmental purposes at the City's discretion.

This measure provides that the 3% Transient Occupancy Tax increase would expire in five years.

Measure "X" was placed on the Ballot by the Blythe City Council. It will be adopted if it is approved by a majority of the voters voting on the measure.

By: Christian Bettenhausen
City Attorney, Blythe CA

  
This election is archived. Any links to sources outside of Smart Voter may no longer be active. No further links will be added to this page.
Links to sources outside of Smart Voter are provided for information only and do not imply endorsement.

Arguments For Measure X Arguments Against Measure X
Arguments in favor of Measure "X" include:
  • This tax will not affect the residents of Blythe, because it will be paid only by visitors staying in our hotels/motels;
  • This increase will sunset (go away) in five years;
  • The current rate at 10% is lower than most of the Coachella Valley hotels/motels; they range from 9-13.5%;
  • The money from Measure "X" will remain in Blythe, the County and State will not get any of this increase;
  • The City of Blythe has reduced its workforce by 48% and operating supplies by 16% since 2008;
  • Combined with fiscal restraint these augmented funds will improve our financial situation to allow the City to focus on needed services, infrastructure, and programs

Mayor Mike Evans said, "this is not a tax that residents of Blythe will pay unless, you stay in a hotel/motel in town. In fact, when residents stay somewhere else, their tax dollars are improving another community; let's do the same here"

The Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) would increase from 10% to 13%. The 3% increase would generate approximately $300,000 in new revenue to address our roads, police protection, fire protection, recreation center activities, senior center activities, promoting our City, and cleaning our City. Almost exclusively non-Blythe residents would pay this tax. For every $100 room rate, it would add $3 to the bill.

Below is the list of supporters who signed the official voter pamphlet in favor of Measure "X":

By:
Bill Kem, Fire Chief of Blythe Volunteer Fire Department
Doris Morgan, Senior Advocate
Angie Patel, Past President of the Blythe Chamber of Commerce
Sam Patel, Business Owner
Gloria Saldana, Business Owner

(No arguments against were submitted)

Riverside Home Page || Statewide Links || About Smart Voter || Feedback
Created: July 23, 2015 14:57 PDT
Smart Voter <http://www.smartvoter.org/>
Copyright © League of Women Voters of California Education Fund   http://cavotes.org
The League of Women Voters neither supports nor opposes candidates for public office or political parties.