Tuolumne County Considering Increasing Transient Occupancy Tax

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Sonora, CA — Whether to put a measure on the ballot calling for an increase in the tax visitor’s pay for local hotels and lodging will be up for review at Tuesday’s Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors meeting.

Tuolumne County’s Transient Occupancy Tax currently sits at 10-percent. Meeting documents note while the 2018/19 preliminary general fund budget is balanced, the following two years are projected to see deficits ranging from $1.4-million to $2.3-million. For that reason, the supervisors are investigating ways to boost revenue. An increase of the TOT by 2 percentage points would bring in an estimated $740,000 annually and expanding it to campgrounds and RV parks (currently exempt) could generate $250,000. The supervisors will hear a report from CAO Craig Pedro and discuss whether to move further toward drafting a November ballot measure.

In addition, there will discussion, and a vote, on a separate ballot measure for November that would give the supervisors the authority to tax commercial marijuana businesses, via a business tax, should regulations allowing for such businesses eventually be implemented. The ballot measure would let the board better know the public’s opinion on the matter. Tuesday’s meeting starts at 9am.