15 22-0581 Subject: TOT Special Tax Measure
From: Vice Mayor Kaplan
Recommendation: Adopt A Resolution On The City Council's Own Motion Submitting To The Voters At The November 8, 2022 General Election, A Proposed Measure To Support Community Needs And Adapt The Current Transient Occupancy Tax To Better Capture Extended Stay Usage Patterns In Oakland By Amending The Oakland Municipal Code Chapter 4.24 To Impose A 14% Medium Term Transient Occupancy Tax On Stays Of 31 To 90 Days; And Directing The City Clerk To Take Any And All Actions Necessary Under Law To Submit This Measure To The Voters
Vice Mayor Kaplan, your recommendation to add 14% tax onto extended stays in Oakland will give extended stay guests every reason to move their stays to surrounding cities - where they are able to obtain tax exemption status for stays 30+ nights or longer. Hotels in Oakland are in the process of rebounding after being devastated the past few years. Adding tax onto stays where guests are staying for work, for projects and personal reasons, are contributing to the local economy and are promoting positive growth into the community. Our goal should be to make Oakland stand out and be known for positive change and adapting to a post-pandemic community- not to drive guests out of Oakland.
This measure will result in a loss of business and tax to Oakland. Travelers looking to book a 31-90 night stay traditionally become tax exempt. Travelers have more options outside of Oakland and are very much inclined to stay in Emeryville, Berkeley, Alameda...etc. This will hurt existing hotels and new hotels coming to Oakland trying to increase business where travelers have the option to stay in surrounding areas.
Vice Mayor Kaplan, your recommendation to add 14% tax onto extended stays in Oakland will give extended stay guests every reason to move their stays to surrounding cities - where they are able to obtain tax exemption status for stays 30+ nights or longer. Hotels in Oakland are in the process of rebounding after being devastated the past few years. Adding tax onto stays where guests are staying for work, for projects and personal reasons, are contributing to the local economy and are promoting positive growth into the community. Our goal should be to make Oakland stand out and be known for positive change and adapting to a post-pandemic community- not to drive guests out of Oakland.
This measure will result in a loss of business and tax to Oakland. Travelers looking to book a 31-90 night stay traditionally become tax exempt. Travelers have more options outside of Oakland and are very much inclined to stay in Emeryville, Berkeley, Alameda...etc. This will hurt existing hotels and new hotels coming to Oakland trying to increase business where travelers have the option to stay in surrounding areas.