Our committee has several ways to help our city avoid this risky proposition. Please join our expanding group of citizens by sharing our message, requesting a sign, hosting an event and adding your name to our list of supporters:
Citizens Against Carmel Hotel Tax Increase
Vote No on Misguided Measure M:
It’s a Risk We Can’t Afford
The Citizens Against Carmel Hotel Tax Increase Committee was formed in direct response to the introduction of the City of Carmel’s Measure M.
Our Committee
Comprised of Carmel-By-The-Sea residents, business owners and concerned citizens, our committee’s goal is to educate our community on the severe risk Measure M represents. We love Carmel and are heavily invested in its success, but Measure M is simply a risk we can’t afford.
Misguided Measure M – A 20% Tax Increase!
A 20% City Tax Increase.
Carmel hotel guests currently pay 12% in City taxes and assessments: 10% in City taxes plus the 2% hospitality improvement district fee.
A 20% City tax increase would take this total to 14% — higher than every city on the Monterey Peninsula!
No Fiscal
Constraints.
Measure M is an unrestricted general tax. All additional hotel-tax revenue goes directly to the General Fund and may be spent on any lawful City purpose.
Voters should also note that Carmel already has one of the highest per-capita municipal budgets in California.
Unnecessary, Excessive Taxation.
In 2012, the City chose investment over a tax increase, creating the Hospitality Improvement District (HID) to grow hotel revenues.
It worked. After nearly 30 years of trailing inflation, TOT has since grown at more than twice the rate of inflation and is now 48% above its prior growth trend.
The Real Story
The System is Working!
The most important question is whether hotel tax payments have increased at current rates. The answer for Carmel is a resounding “YES!” Hotel tax payments have increased more than 5 times, from under $2M initially to over $10M this year, and remain at record levels, increasing almost 30% over the past 3 years. Our guests already pay the highest taxes per night of any city in the County!
Measure M is Lose, Lose
Carmel Hotels and Businesses are projected to lose over $3.5 Million dollars per year in revenue if Measure M passes. Additionally, the City would lose almost $2 million dollars in taxes. If Measure M wins, everybody loses.
The Reality of Raising Taxes
Half Moon Bay, the City’s lead example in support of higher taxes lost raised their taxes and immediately lost overnight guests, increased day-visitors and did NOT increase TOT revenues.
Measure M = the Wrong Kind of Tourism
Higher hotel tax rates will result in guests moving outside City limits to hotels with lower room rates and taxes, where they will become more Carmel “day-visitors.”
Why Discourage Local Investment?
Hotel renovations have fueled the greatest increases in City hotel taxes. Over-taxation will discourage the investments that generate the City’s highest tax increases.
Our Supporters
Carmel Chamber of Commerce – GAC
Lydia Lyons
Anthony Carnazzo
Nancy Twomey
Tim Twomey
Graeme Robertson
Ashley Wolff
Dave Potter
Carrie Theis
Mark Stilwell
Monterey Peninsula Taxpayers Association
Monterey Bay Action Committee – Issues
Jeff LeTowt
Monique Black
Mark Watson
Candace Fectaeu
Donna Fectaeu
Scott Richards
Maggie Schinnerer
Rod Schinnerer
Mark Stilwell Sr.
Monterey County Hospitality Association
Ben Beesley
Rich Pepe
Greg Ahn
Shaheen Alnuaimi
Janet Elarmo
Susan Stilwell
Sydney Stilwell
Richard Stilwell
Cheryl Assemi
Susan Dampier
Bashar al Sneeh
