Amador County – The Amador Business Council on Tuesday said it would pick up the cost to pursue a Transient Occupancy Tax increase for hotels and motels, and Amador County Supervisors approved language for a draft ballot measure, to consider at its next meeting June 26.

Supervisor Vice Chairman Richard Forster said: “I would like to hear that we will have support from the business community,” and he didn’t want to waste $10,000 to $20,000 it would cost to put it on the ballot.

Amador Business Council’s Al Bozzo said the strongest revenue stream right now is agri-tourism, and the opportunity is enormous. Bozzo said the Business Council already has commitments for some money, and the Amador Business Council is picking up the cost of the education campaign, through its member contributions.

Business Council member Jim Gullett said they would need to mount an organized campaign, with a cost estimated at $30,000 to market it. Supervisor John Plasse said if the business community is fully willing to raise the lions share to educate the electorate, and willing to run that significant risk, this board would take on the cost to print the ballot.

Supervisors voted 4-1 to direct staff to write up the draft ballot measure.

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