Several Los Angeles County cities are taking a different approach to raising revenue: They want to increase hotel taxes, shifting more of the cost to visitors.
Unlike Los Angeles’ Measure FD, which would increase the city’s sales tax and affect both residents and visitors, proposals in seven LA County cities would primarily put the additional tax burden on travelers staying in hotels.
The proposed hotel tax rates vary, but nearly all of the cities say they need additional revenue to fund essential services, including emergency response, wildfire and crime prevention as well as infrastructure maintenance.
Critics argue that higher hotel taxes could make accommodations more expensive and discourage tourists from staying in those cities.
City of Alhambra: Measure HT would expand the existing 12% hotel tax to short-term rentals, such as Airbnb and Vrbo. If passed, the measure is expected to generate about $134,000 annually for public services, including fire protection, crime prevention, 911 response and parks maintenance.
City of Burbank: Measure C would increase the city’s transient occupancy tax from 10% to 12% to help fund city services, including public safety, 911 emergency response, disaster preparedness, wildfire prevention, parks, libraries and streets. The proposal is expected to generate about $3 million annually. The tax would be paid by hotel and motel guests, not directly by residents.
Culver City: Measure T would increase the city’s transient occupancy tax from 14% to 16% in two phases. If passed, the tax would increase to 15% on March 1, 2027, and to 16% on March 1, 2028. The measure is expected to generate up to about $2 million annually for the city’s General Fund, which supports services including 911 emergency response, firefighter, paramedic and police staffing, affordable housing, mental health and homelessness reduction programs and infrastructure.
City of Hawthorne: Measure O would raise the city’s hotel tax from 12% to 17%. The measure is projected to generate $3.1 million annually for the General Fund, which supports services including police and fire response, street repairs, park maintenance and neighborhood cleanliness programs.
City of Lynwood: Measure L would establish a 12% transient occupancy tax on hotel and motel stays. If passed, the measure is expected to generate about $751,000 annually for the General Fund. The money could help fund essential services, including 911 emergency response, crime prevention, anti-human-trafficking efforts, homelessness programs, street repairs and youth and senior programs.
City of Monterey Park: Measure AAA would increase the transient occupancy tax for hotel and motel guests from 13% to 14% and establish a 16% rate for short-term rental guests. The measure is expected to generate about $600,000 in additional annual revenue. The money could be used for services including fire and police response, 911 services, crime and human-trafficking prevention and street repairs.
City of Rancho Palos Verdes: Measure RS would increase the city’s transient occupancy tax from 10% to 13%. The measure is expected to generate about $2.2 million annually, paid by hotel and motel guests. The money would help fund wildfire and natural disaster preparedness and response, road and storm-drain maintenance, sinkhole prevention and responses to landslides and land movement.
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