Title
HEARING - Consider recommendations regarding an Ordinance Amending the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) from 12% to 14% for the November 2024 General Election Ballot, as follows: (EST. TIME: 30 MIN.)
a) Consider the introduction (First Reading) of an Ordinance amending Section 32-12 of the Santa Barbara County Code to increase the TOT Rate from the current level of Twelve Percent (12%) to Fourteen Percent (14%) of the charges in the unincorporated area of the County;
b) Read the title “Ordinance Amending Section 32-12 of the Santa Barbara County Code to Increase the TOT Rate to Fourteen Percent (14%)” and waive further reading of the Ordinance in full;
c) Approve and authorize member(s) of the Board of Supervisors to author, sign and submit on behalf of the Board an argument in favor of the TOT rate increase ballot measure and any rebuttal; and
d) Set a hearing on the Departmental Agenda of July 9, 2024 to consider recommendations, as follows:
(Set a hearing for July 9, 2024. Time estimate: 30 minutes)
i) Consider the adoption (Second Reading) of an Ordinance amending Section 32-12 of the Santa Barbara County Code to increase the TOT Rate from the current level of Twelve Percent (12%) to Fourteen Percent (14%) of the charges in the unincorporated area of the County;
ii) Adopt a Resolution submitting the proposed Ordinance and ballot language proposing to increase the TOT rate to fourteen percent (14%) to the electorate for approval, and requesting and ordering consolidation with the November 5, 2024 General Election; and
iii) Determine that the above actions are not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15378(b)(4) of the CEQA Guidelines because they consist of the creation of government funding mechanisms which do not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment.
COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S RECOMMENDATION: POLICY