Palo Alto voters would likely support another hotel-tax increase, though they would almost certainly shoot down any proposal to hike the real-estate transfer tax, according to a new survey commissioned by the city.
Things are far less certain, however, when it comes to a proposal to tax sugary beverages. On that measure, the citizens appear to be split pretty much down the middle, according to the survey from the firm Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz and Associates (FM3 Research). The City Council plans to discuss the survey results this Monday before considering whether to place on the November ballot a tax measure to help pay for infrastructure improvements.
The survey, which the city released Thursday afternoon, largely reaffirms the results of an earlier survey, which suggested that an increase to the transient-occupancy tax (better known as the "hotel tax") has a better chance of gaining voter support than other types of tax increases. The survey showed more than 60 percent of the voters supporting increasing the tax rate from 14 percent to 16 percent, with more than 30 percent saying "definitely yes" and more than 20 percent saying "probably yes."
Depending on how the question is framed, the rate of support for a hotel-tax ranges from 62 percent to 67 percent, well above the simple majority needed to approve the general tax increase (taxes raised for a specific purpose require a two-thirds approval).
The survey also indicated that for the voters, the most pressing infrastructure projects are those relating to public safety and road repairs. When asked about ensuring a "modern, stable 911 emergency communication network," 73 percent of the survey respondents rated the priority as "extremely important" or "very important." Fixing potholes and ensuring safe routes to schools also scored high, with 68 percent and 67 percent of the respondents, respectively, giving these priorities high scores.
The council also requested that the firm poll voters on whether they would support increasing the real-estate transfer tax by $1.10 per $1,000, which would provide about $2 million in annual revenues. While the prior poll suggested that such a proposal could have a chance at passage, the new one suggests that it would be a tough, if not impossible, sell.
Regardless of how a real-estate tax measure would be worded, the measure is unlikely to earn even a simple majority (support ranged from 38 to 41 percent). The result suggests that the proposal to raise the real-estate tax, which was already on thin ice, is likely to be dropped from consideration on Monday, when the council revisits the topic.
The biggest wild card is the sugar tax. The survey asked residents about the prospect of imposing a 2 cent-per-ounce tax on distributors of sugar-sweetened beverages, which includes sodas, sports drinks and sweetened teas. The tax would generate an estimated $2.5 million for the general fund.
The survey indicated that such a measure would be divisive, with 49 percent likely to support it and 47 percent likely to oppose it (with different wording, the support would be 52 percent and opposition 44 percent).
The survey results suggest that the sugar tax could be a viable measure, even if the outcome is unpredictable. Even so, a new report from the Administrative Services Department suggests that this may not be the right year for it. The report points to the "considerable staff and council work" that would be required to place the sugar-sweetened beverage tax on the November ballot and suggests that the city consider the idea for a subsequent ballot.
In the meantime, staff could consider the size of the tax, issues relating to collection and enforcement, potential exemptions and the purpose of tax proceeds, the report states.
"In addition to the analysis and direction needed to craft a local measure, Council may wish to direct staff to engage in outreach and education with beverage distributors who would be subject to the tax, and with other stakeholders (such as the Palo Alto Unified School District) regarding the issue and the potential adoption of the local tax to address it."
The council decided to explore a November tax measure in response to the recent escalation of construction costs and the resulting funding gap in the city's infrastructure plan. The plan, which the council adopted in 2014, includes a new public-safety building, two rebuilt fire stations, a bike bridge over U.S. Highway 101, new garages in downtown and near California Avenue, the completion of the Charleston-Arastradero streetscape project and various bike improvements.
Staff estimates that the projects are collectively facing a funding gap of $76 million, according to the new report.
Comments
Registered user
Adobe-Meadow
on Jun 1, 2018 at 11:55 am
Registered user
on Jun 1, 2018 at 11:55 am
Why was there no consideration of a business license tax or a tax of employers based on the number of employees?
Can we better value engineer the various infrastructure projects? Does it make sense to have a citizen board providing oversight on the Public Works department, so we don't have more debacles like the Mitchell Park Library?
If the City Council had gone with the iconic design for the bicycle bridge over 101 in South Palo Alto, it would have been built by now. Now the bridge will be even more expensive because of the delay, and not look anywhere near as nice.
University South
on Jun 1, 2018 at 12:55 pm
on Jun 1, 2018 at 12:55 pm
« Considerable staff and Council work » is not necessary for a sugar tax. Four cities already have the legislation in place and Palo Alto would only need to change the wording. Let’s get this done now.
Crescent Park
on Jun 1, 2018 at 1:11 pm
on Jun 1, 2018 at 1:11 pm
I was surveyed and the hotel tax question was very misleading. As the attached city study details, I and others were asked if we supported "increasing the transient occupancy tax paid by hotel, motel, short-term rental guests by 2%." A 2% increase sounds negligible and hardly something you can object to. Bur the actual proposal is not to increase the tax by 2%. Rather, it's to increase the tax by 14%. That's because increasing something from 14% to 16% means you are increasing it by 2/14, which is itself 14%. The survey takers just read the questions, so they can't even verify they are really asking about a 14% increase.
I'm sure support would have been lower if those of us who were surveyed had been asked if we want the hotel tax to go up by 14% instead of 2%.
Midtown
on Jun 1, 2018 at 1:56 pm
on Jun 1, 2018 at 1:56 pm
Mountain View is proposing a tax on large employers (which mostly means you know who). I think this makes a tremendous amount of sense because these big companies put a huge strain on local infrastructure, which is developed and maintained by city taxes. I would be in favor of a tax like this before a tax on hotels. It is pretty easy to target a business tax on the companies that are causing the biggest problems to the city, eg only apply it to companies with more than 500 employees and a total payroll that is more than 5 times the minimum wage. Companies with salaries this high can afford a couple of percent in payroll tax.
Registered user
Embarcadero Oaks/Leland
on Jun 1, 2018 at 3:37 pm
Registered user
on Jun 1, 2018 at 3:37 pm
The same pollsters reported a 20% decline in public satisfaction with PA's direction this year alone and little tolerance for ANY new resident taxes. Yet the city keeps wasting $$$ polling residents rather than doing the hard work to follow the lead of surrounding communities and collecting money from the big employers abd developers.
"Considerable staff and Council work » is not necessary for a sugar tax. Four cities already have the legislation in place and Palo Alto would only need to change the wording. Let’s get this done now."
I remember the CC members bragging about how easy it would be; it would be a real shame if they had to work hard on a business tax.
As for the hotel tax, that's another lazy way out. Let's make all those Stanford patients and their families, and the families of residents visiting here subsidize the developers and big companies who continue to get all sorts of "in lieu" freebies and other gifts.
A city that wastes tens of millions of dollars a year on road furniture and developer giveways doesn't need a cent more of my money.
Midtown
on Jun 1, 2018 at 3:42 pm
on Jun 1, 2018 at 3:42 pm
Why is the city so reluctant to propose a business tax? If the city won't do it let's do it via referendum.
Adobe-Meadow
on Jun 1, 2018 at 4:04 pm
on Jun 1, 2018 at 4:04 pm
We already have a hotel tax. There is a reason that there are many hotels that are over the border from PA. Are you all trying to encourage people to come here or to discourage them by gouging them for money? The city keeps trying to figure out how to get more money from everyone. So tiring.
Registered user
Embarcadero Oaks/Leland
on Jun 1, 2018 at 5:42 pm
Registered user
on Jun 1, 2018 at 5:42 pm
At the CC meeting about the hotel tax increase, hotel industry reps made a few interesting points: 1) They hadn't been notified a proposed hotel tax was proposed; they weren't pleased they had to learn about it from the media, 2) They urged the city to read their info packets showing PA hotel receipts were down vs hotels in nearby communities because PA's hotel tax is already higher and 3) their corporate clients were already asking for higher discounts to offset the present tax.
One hotel rep said that in his 20-year career in the hotel industry that this is the first occupancy tax he'd oppose.
Adobe-Meadow
on Jun 2, 2018 at 7:04 am
on Jun 2, 2018 at 7:04 am
PA's history to date on encouraging big business is not to do it. The big box stores on Charleston - the stores are on MV property and the parking lot is on PA property. It was planned that way to avoid PA's big box issues. And the big business in downtown is attacked on a regular basis by commentators on this system. At a meeting on Mitchell Park in the planning stages the reps said that non-profits could reserve for space but not commercial business. This by reps for the city. We can force everyone out by these type actions and then compare ourselves to MV and RWC who are booming with new growth and big business. MP has Facebook who moved out of PA. And now PA wants to punish hotels who built here which upgraded El Camino. Who in the city specifically is pushing for this - name, rank and serial number. Tired of hearing about new taxes. Figure out how to manage a city so you have a balance of all aspects of a city and quit gouging everyone. I am concerned that people we have not voted for by name appear to be running the city and ruining the financial transparency required.
Adobe-Meadow
on Jun 2, 2018 at 8:43 am
on Jun 2, 2018 at 8:43 am
I do not believe any POLL that suggests that voters would support a higher hotel tax. In case you have not noticed your phone is ringing continually to look for money to support who ever your candidates are and polling companies. I do not answer those phone calls - nor do many other people. Let it go to Message and there will be no message because it is a automated system. The media is selling a concept that assumes that if other people are for something than you also should be for that something. However it is your relatives and guests who are paying those higher taxes when they come to visit. No - not supported by anyone except the people in the city who are now looking at retirement and already know that the state retirement system is grounding in to the dirt.
Barron Park
on Jun 2, 2018 at 9:16 am
on Jun 2, 2018 at 9:16 am
Of course.
I want stuff and I’d support taxing other people to pay for it. I don’t stay in PA hotels so it won’t cost me a dime.
This is how PA does stuff. Do a poll to see who were willing to tax to get stuff we want. The answer is always somebody else or some minority of voters. The order always is...
1. Non residents
2. Businesses
3. Property owners
And last on the list to be taxed is: “all PA citizens equally”
Downtown North
on Jun 2, 2018 at 9:41 pm
on Jun 2, 2018 at 9:41 pm
I'll support a hotel tax, if and only of ALL of the hotels in the city are taxed equally. If Airbnb hotels, and that it exactly what they are, taxed like the brick and mortar hotels, I'm not supporting this tax. Period.
University South
on Jun 2, 2018 at 11:19 pm
on Jun 2, 2018 at 11:19 pm
@Rich
Good idea on linking a hotel tax increase to leveling the playing field with AirBNB rentals. But the last time the city council looked at tightening AirBNB’s, Scharff led the opposition. He is leading the hotel tax increase so your proposal would have to get past him.
Adobe-Meadow
on Jun 4, 2018 at 8:43 am
on Jun 4, 2018 at 8:43 am
Just so all are aware the major hotels on El Camino have corporate contracts with most major companies that are here on business, as well as government agency rates. Since those deals have already been made for years then the only people who will be charged your new rate are visitors who come in for games, graduation, and your family parties. You can also add in the various travel groups who advertise on TV to get the lowest rates. So what is the point of this? Is it showboating to demonstrate "fiscal responsibility"? I am sure that you will have to hire another group of people to administer this fiasco - another group of city employees to feed and retire. Can you please stop thinking up reasons to hire people to administer strange tax schemes while you are trying to lay-off the auditors who are reviewing the schemes.
Registered user
Embarcadero Oaks/Leland
on Jun 4, 2018 at 11:07 am
Registered user
on Jun 4, 2018 at 11:07 am
Re previously negotiated corporate tax rates, absolutely as per the hotel industry's testimony at the cc council meeting where the city yet again failed to notify "stakeholders" of their plans and/or to research the issue.
On NextDoor, there are periodic posts about visiting friends whose corporate per diems price them out of all hotels asking if they can park and sleep in their rental cars in their friend's driveways. There are more frequent posts begging for housing for visiting family members who want to spend a few weeks or months helping with a new baby or trying to make their annual visits.
An increased hotel tax effects residents, not just visitors.
The city's insatiable greed, failure to do its homework and refusal to create a business tax is appalling. How about cutting spending instead of constantly hiking utility rates and inventing new taxes.