94,896 / 65.0% Yes votes ...... 51,064 / 35.0% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Meaning of Voting Yes/No

A YES vote of this measure means:

A yes vote would allow the City to increase the transient occupancy tax rate by 4% for the special purpose of funding the future expansion of the San José McEnery Convention Center and security and safety improvements to the Center.

A NO vote of this measure means:

A no vote would not allow the transient occupancy tax rate to be increased.

The transient occupancy tax (commonly referred to as the hotel tax) is paid only by guests at hotels, motels and other similar structures designed or used for tourist lodging in the City of San José. The current hotel tax rate is 10% of the rent charged to the hotel guest. This measure would authorize the City Council to amend the San José Municipal Code in order to increase the hotel tax rate by an additional 4%. If approved, the total tax rate would be 14%. The proceeds of the 4% rate increase would be deposited into a special fund and could only be used to fund the potential expansion of the Convention Center and security and safety improvements to the Center. A Citizens Oversight Committee would be appointed to oversee use of the monies and the City would be required to provide annual financial audits of expenditures in the fund.

A yes vote would allow the City to increase the transient occupancy tax rate by 4% for the special purpose of funding the future expansion of the San José McEnery Convention Center and security and safety improvements to the Center.

A no vote would not allow the transient occupancy tax rate to be increased.

/s/ Richard Doyle, City Attorney, City of San Jose

Because this material has been retyped from material filed with the Registrar of Voters there could be errors. For the official information please contact the Registrar of Voters.

Pat O'Hearn (408)277-4424; Fax: (408)277-3285

Libertarian Party of Santa Clara Co.

San Jose Mercury News - Oct. 26

• Measures article

Measure F, the Hotel Levy or Transient Occupancy Tax, is only paid by hotel guests. You do not pay this levy as a San Jose resident. Measure F will not increase your property, sales or income taxes.

Measure F is your chance to create over 4,000 new good-paying local jobs, adding $4 billion in salary and wages for local residents. Your yes vote will increase visitor spending by $155 million per year, supporting our downtown restaurants, arts, cultural attractions and retail merchants.

Measure F improves our safety. By improving the Convention Center, we ensure that it continues to serve as a citywide emergency disaster shelter in crisis situations such as floods, earthquakes or terrorist attacks. Voting yes provides badly needed safety upgrades and security improvements for the center such as a new alarm system, fire doors, security gates and cameras, and better lighting.

The measure is subject to strict accountability, including guaranteed annual financial audits and a citizen's oversight committee, so that these funds are restricted to repairs, improved safety and security and expansion of San Jose Convention Center services.

By passing Measure F, you will generate additional revenue for critical city services such as police and fire protection, student mentoring and after-school programs, pothole and street repair, and senior citizen programs.

To create local jobs, attract new business, stimulate the local economy, and help keep San Jose the Safest Big City in America, WITHOUT RAISING YOUR TAXES, vote YES on Measure F.

/s/ Daniel N. Fenton, President/CEO, San Jose Convention Visitors Bureau
/s/ Don Demers, President, San Jose Police Officers' Association
/s/ Ron Gonzales, Mayor
/s/ Amy B. Dean, President & CEO,South Bay Labor Council
/s/ Jim Cunneen, President & CEO, San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce

1. Although the proposed increase from 10% to 14% will generate $370 million of additional revenue for the City (according to estimates in the San Jose Mercury News), it will increase the tax burden on hotels by 40%.

2. That's $370 million more the hotels must earn than they now earn, without any likely benefit to the hotels, their employees, or their stockholders.

3. Convention and visitor revenue will go to cities whose hotels charge more competitive prices.

4. This extra tax burden will hurt all San Jose businesses that depend on business travel or business travelers.

This kind of dislocation of the free market prolonged the Great Depression and destroyed hope of recovery in the 1930s. Already, thousands of San Jose workers have been dismissed from their jobs, and San Jose's economy is on the brink of a serious depression. This is the time to decrease taxes, not increase them. It's time to stop irresponsible taxation.

Join us at "VoteNoOnF.org" and Vote "No" on F.

/s/ H. R. Strong, Chair, Libertarian Party of Santa Clara Co.
/s/ Elizabeth C. Brierly, MBA, Candidate, State Board of Equalization, District 1
/s/ George Swenson, President Silicon Valley Taxpayers' Association
/s/ Mark W. A. Hinkle, Member of Executive Committee, Libertarian Pary of Santa Clara Co.
/s/ Dennis Michael Umphress, District 16 Congressional Candidate