Mountain View voters have approved Measure F, which authorizes the City Council to raise the city’s transient occupancy, or hotel, tax from 10% to as high as 15%, the Mountain View Voice reported. KQED’s Associated Press tally, updated at 9:59 p.m. PT on Nov. 9, showed 17,189 yes votes, or 79.3%, to 4,461 no, or 20.6%. The results remain unofficial. The measure needed a simple majority.
Why it matters: A city analysis cited by the Voice said the increase could generate an additional $5.2 million a year for the general fund, with possible uses including streets and sidewalks, police, fire and emergency response, affordable housing, parks and other services, plus annual independent audits. The tax is paid by visitors at hotels, motels and other short-term rentals; government employees on official business and stays longer than 30 consecutive days are exempt. The Voice said Mountain View last raised the tax in 1991, from 8% to 10%, and that the current 10% rate is among the lower rates in the region.
Mayor Emily Ann Ramos told the Voice she was “proud and honored to have the trust of Mountain View voters,” and that the council will work with the hotel industry and the wider community to set any increase. The city had considered a general-obligation bond earlier this year but dropped it after polling showed weak support, then pivoted to the hotel tax, the paper reported. There was no formal opposition, and a committee backing Measures E and F raised $12,500, with no money spent against them.
Earlier Voice figures, from registrar returns at 4:49 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 4, showed Measure F leading with 78.75%, or 10,052 votes. The later KQED tally has a larger count and a slightly higher yes share. Both are unofficial.