2,522 / 52.9% Yes votes ...... 2,243 / 47.1% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

This measure would amend and modernize the City's Hotel Tax, increase such tax rate to twelve percent, and clarify and reorganize the procedures for collection and enforcement of the tax. The hotel tax is NOT assessed on San Pablo residents or businesses. Rather, it is assessed on visitors to the City, who stay in hotels, as defined in the Ordinance, for periods of thirty days or less. Certain exemptions are provided. Each hotel subject to the ordinance must obtain a permit, which must be posted at all times. Hotel operators must collect the tax and remit it to the City on a monthly basis. Penalties are assessed for delinquent payments, unless an extension for good cause has been obtained. The filing of false or fraudulent reports is made unlawful, and the City is given the right to audit and issue subpoenas to the hotel operator. The hotel operator is provided full due process rights to appeal the City's application of the tax. Provisions are set forth for refunds of overpaid taxes. The hotel tax is a general tax whose proceeds go into the City's General Fund and whose uses are not restricted to a particular purpose.

This tax may not be increased or extended without a vote of the people, but the City Council may otherwise amend the ordinance without a popular vote. The above statement is an impartial analysis of Measure T. If you desire a copy of the ordinance, please call the city clerk at 215-3000 and a copy will be mailed at no cost to you, or you may view the ordinance on-line at http://www.ci.san-pablo.ca.us.

Brian M. Libow, San Pablo City Attorney

This is an existing tax that is only paid by visitors to San Pablo who rent hotel and motel rooms. San Pablo residents will NOT pay this tax.

These visitors enjoy all of the security and protection of our City services while visiting in San Pablo. These services include recreational amenities and the protection of the best police department in Contra Costa County.

It is only fair that these visitors pay a small portion of the costs of these services. Virtually every city in the state imposes this tax on visitors who should pay their fair share while staying in our City. The State of California has pirated city and county revenues throughout the state to balance the state budget, including funds that would other wise be used for providing services to San Pablo residents. They have done this to pay for their overspending to the detriment of California cities generally and San Pablo specifically.

This tax helps offset the cost of providing services within San Pablo. The small increase in the hotel tax will offset the cost of providing services within the City of San Pablo. Again, residents do NOT pay this tax. The City is seeking to reduce the Utility User's Tax which is paid for by San Pablo residents and asks that you approve an increase in this tax on visitors to help pay for needed city services.

Vote YES on Measure S

Barbara Vigil, Mayor, City of San Pablo

Janet Klein, Member, Safety Committee

Hector Rojas, Resident

M.A. Kahn, Member, Safety Committee

Beverly Thiele, Member, San Pablo Community Foundation

(No arguments against Measure T were submitted)