Pass: 6162 / 56.40% Yes votes ...... 4764 / 43.60% No votes

See Also: Index of all Propositions

EFFECT OF MEASURE ON EXISTING LAW: If a majority of the votes cast on this measure are "yes," then commencing on January 1, 2009, existing law would be amended to apply the application of the transient occupancy tax regardless of the number of units in a structure and to expressly include short term rental units (for 30 days or less) in the definition of the term "hotel." Consequently, any guest of a hotel (as defined), regardless of the number of units contained in the structure, along with short term rentals, would be required to pay a transient occupancy tax at a rate of 8% of the rent charged for use by the City for any municipal purpose.

City of Encinitas

North County Times

• ENCINITAS: Voters to decide sand-tax measures - 5/31/08
• ENCINITAS: Voters to decide on taxing short-term rentals - 5/17/08

• Propositions would tax short-term rentals - 5/16/08

IMPORTANTLY, T.O.T. IS PAID BY VISITORS ONLY, NOT BY HOTEL OWNERS OR CITY RESIDENTS.

Since 1997, many of our local single family residences have been purchased and converted to short-term rental units. These short-term units act very much like a lodge or mini-hotel and are advertised as such worldwide. Most of these new mini-hotels are west of Interstate 5 to take advantage of our beaches and other amenities.

Guests of these mini-hotels use the same infrastructure and services as guests staying at traditional lodging facilities. The big difference between these guests and other guests staying in traditional lodging facilities, is that they do not pay to support the local services they use.

A vote for this measure will ensure these visitors pay the current 8% TOT, as all other visitors do, and contribute their fair share for local services and maintenance. This is truly an issue of fairness, equity and sustainability of our valued community.