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Questions for Palo Alto Voters

Thinking About Voting For Increasing
theTransient Occupancy Tax (TOT)
Planning to vote to increase the already high Transient
Occupancy Tax (TOT)? If so, please consider the following --
In 2014, the question on the Palo Alto Ballot (Measure B) was:

To provide funding that cannot be taken away by the State for general fund
infrastructure and City services such as earthquake safe fire stations; pedestrian
and bike improvements including safe routes to school, streets, sidewalks, paths,
and bridges; and maintaining parks and recreation facilities, shall the City increase
the hotel/motel tax by two percent and update language to confirm equal treatment
of traditional and online bookings?

In 2018, this almost same question appears again on the Palo Alto Ballot
(Measure E):
To provide funding for vital City services such as ensuring modern, stable 911
emergency communications, earthquake safe fire stations and emergency command
center; improving pedestrian and bicyclist safety; ensuring safe routes to schools;
maintaining City streets and sidewalks; and other city services, shall the City of Palo
Alto adopt an ordinance increasing the transient occupancy tax paid by hotel, motel,
short-term rental guests by 1.5%, providing approximately $2.55 million annually
until ended by voters, subject to annual audits?

In 2020, will this be the Palo Alto Ballot question:

To provide funding for vital City services such as ensuring modern, stable 911
emergency communications, earthquake safe fire stations and emergency command
center; improving pedestrian and bicyclist safety; ensuring safe routes to schools;
maintaining City streets and sidewalks; and other city services, shall the City of Palo
Alto adopt an ordinance increasing the transient occupancy tax paid by hotel, motel,
short-term rental guests by an additional 2.5%?

In 2022, will voters see:

To provide funding for vital City services such as ensuring modern, stable 911
emergency communications, earthquake safe fire stations and emergency command
center; improving pedestrian and bicyclist safety; ensuring safe routes to schools;
maintaining City streets and sidewalks; and other city services, shall the City of Palo
Alto adopt an ordinance increasing the transient occupancy tax paid by hotel, motel,
short-term rental guests by an additional 4.5%?

And again in 2024:

To provide funding for vital City services such as ensuring modern, stable 911
emergency communications, earthquake safe fire stations and emergency command
center; improving pedestrian and bicyclist safety; ensuring safe routes to schools;
maintaining City streets and sidewalks; and other city services, shall the City of Palo
Alto adopt an ordinance increasing the transient occupancy tax paid by hotel, motel,
short-term rental guests by an additional 6.5%?

Using the City’s own data for future revenue from Transient Occupancy Tax, the
City will likely collect 3 Billion dollars ($3B) over the next 30 years. Even with this
incredibly lucrative tax on travelers in place, there is every reason to believe that
future City Councils will put a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) increase on the ballot
every two years, or so—if Palo Alto’s voters allow them to use Palo Alto’s visitors as
their own “piggy bank”.
The Council has a huge pension problem--an unfunded liability possibly growing in
time to $1B (billion)--which it doesn’t seem to talk about much. It’s clear that new
TOT money is not locked into accounts that only will pay for infrastructure. The
Council will be free to spend it as they see fit—such as paying for higher salaries and
expanding pension costs.

If you don’t want to see this new tax on every ballot in the future --
Please VOTE NO on Measure E in November.
Questions of Wayne Martin, a long-time resident of Palo Alto, before the 2018 City Council Election.
email: wmartin46@yahoo.com