Amador County – Amador County Business Council members on Tuesday voiced support for a Transient Occupancy Tax increase on hotel and motel visits.

Amador County Board of Supervisors directed staff to start a draft of a proposed ballot measure, and Supervisor Richard Forster appointed an ad hoc committee to hold public workshops on the issue.

The Business Council’s Jim Conklin recommended a 4 percent increase to add to the current 6 percent TOT tax, which he said could be called a “Tourist” tax. He recommended the 4 percent go to Amador Council of Tourism. Several group representatives spoke in favor, including Chamber President Mark Borchin. Conklin recommended the funds go to promote tourism.

Supervisor John Plasse said all groups should be included in the workshop and give input, including the Mother Lode Tea Party, the Democratic and Republican committees, the Chamber and the Business Council. Plasse said the funds might also “dedicate the money to economic development as a whole.”

Al Bozzo of the Business Council and Amador Realtors Association said wine-related agriculture is the most important industry in Amador, and the more money we have in the pot, the more money we have to pay for infrastructure.

Bozzo compared wine regions, saying Lodi is a sleeping giant, and Napa has a multi-million dollar marketing budget that “we can’t match, but we can get our fair share.” 

Maurine Funk, executive director of the Amador Council of Tourism said she had spoken informally with all of the local groups and all of the discussions have been positive. She said Calaveras County has been unwilling to go to the ballot to try to raise their 6 percent TOT tax, because they feel they do not have the support for tourism. She said: “I think it’s an easy sell for us.”

Supervisor Ted Novelli said it would not be easy if people get the wrong idea about the tax, because of the large number of elders in the population. He said Amador County is among the top three counties in per capita retirees. He said when they hear “tax,” the hair stands up on the back of their necks. He said don’t use it, it is a bad word.

Forster said they should emphasize that people who live here do not pay the Transient Occupancy Tax. Only visitors pay it, as part of their hotel and motel fees. Bozzo said “no resident from Amador County is going to be touched.” He said visitors pay the TOT in hotels, and the promotional money will help all businesses.

Conklin urged following the same timeline as Tuolumne County, which seeks a measure to close tax loopholes on camping and RV visitors. He said they would need to decide on the language by around June 21 to make the November ballot.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.