Pass: 4219 / 78.8% Yes votes ...... 1133 / 21.2% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Impartial Analysis from Stephen P. Deitsch, City Attorney

The City of Arcadia currently imposes a transient occupancy tax ("TOT"), also generally known as a hotel room tax, at the rate of ten percent (10%) of the rent paid by guests to occupy a room or other space in a hotel or other similar accommodation (referred to throughout this analysis as a "hotel"). This TOT is imposed upon paying guests of hotels within the City for occupying a room or other hotel space, for dwelling, lodging, or sleeping purposes, for a period of thirty consecutive days or less.

The passage of Measure "D" would amend the City's Municipal Code as follows:

• Extends the period of hotel occupancy subject to the TOT from 30 days or less to 90 days or less;
• Clarifies that if a guest occupies a hotel for longer than 90 consecutive days, the TOT will apply to the first 90 days of hotel occupancy;
• Includes online travel companies and other similar third parties as hotel "operators" for the purpose of collecting the City's TOT from guests who purchase occupancy of a room or space in a hotel via the Internet, or by similar electronic means;
• Clarifies that the taxable rent paid for a hotel room or other space includes room rates, service charges, parking fees, purchase price, advance registration, block or group reservation charges, assessments, retail markup, commissions, processing fees, cancellation charges, attrition fees, and online booking fees;
• Addresses "block reservation" arrangements by providing that the period of taxable occupancy is measured by the length of an individual guest's stay, not the length of the "block reservation" or similar agreement entered into by the guest's employer or agent; and
• Includes certain clarifying amendments regarding exemptions from the TOT.

Measure "D" is a general tax and may be used for any general governmental purpose of the City, such as fire, paramedic and police services; street operations and maintenance; and library, parks and recreation services. In order for the City to adopt the amendments to its Municipal Code described above, Measure "D" must be approved by a majority of the votes cast by the voters voting on the ballot proposition.

A "yes" vote on Measure "D" will authorize the amendments to the City's Municipal Code described above.

A "no" vote on Measure ""D" will prohibit the City from adopting the amendments to its Municipal Code as described above.

City of Arcadia