Amador County – Amador County Supervisors next week will revisit a request by local business leaders to increase the hotel and motel tax in the county.

At their May 22 meeting, supervisors discussed a request by the Amador Business Council to raise the Transient Occupancy Tax from 6 to 10 percent, and use the funds from the extra 4 percent to promote the county, through the Amador Council of Tourism. County Counsel Gregg Gillott sought direction from supervisors on wording for a potential ballot measure, and was concerned about complexity and wording issues.

Jennifer McGee of the counsel’s office said community groups support the measure and hopefully will get together and put a support statement on the ballot, at a maximum 300 words. Opposition groups have the same option, and a county statement on the ballot can be 500 words. The measure itself would be limited to about 75 words.

Amador Business Council Executive Director Jim Conklin said business groups support bringing in camping and other lodging to the TOT tax “in one fell swoop,” and the Business Council has already raised $1,000 to do outreach to let people know who will be affected, and to educate people.

Conklin said it is a tax for tourists, and residents are not going to be paying this tax. McGee said stays of longer than 30 days are exempt lodging from TOT. Supervisor Richard Forster said if camping is the “kiss of death” for this, they may want to consider removing it. Conklin agreed.

Supervisor Ted Novelli said he preferred a special tax in the measure, but said he was speaking for himself. Forster said business groups proposed the increase as a general tax.

Amador Council of Tourism Executive Director Maureen Funk said the county Transient Occupancy Tax at 6 percent is the lowest in the state, but if it was raised to 10 percent, it would still be among the lowest rates in the state. She said most measures typically include camping.

Supervisor John Plasse asked if they could charge TOT tax on state, federal and water district lands if they are operated by concessionaires. Gillott was not sure, and also not sure if any are run by concessionaires.

Forster said it was a very competitive market, and suggested they might want to consider a TOT fee based on short-term visits or a fee based on lodging. Plasse said if they are not able to charge the TOT on state, federal and utility camp sites, then it is further giving private camp sites another disadvantage.

Plasse asked for an inventory of the campsites and a study to see if the county has the authority to impose this tax or not. Supervisors return to the issue at their Tuesday, June 12 regular meeting.

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