by Mary Plummer / inewsource / February 20, 2020
Measure C has been pitched to San Diego voters as a key to reducing homelessness, a boost for local roads and a necessary investment in the downtown convention center to maintain valuable tourism dollars.
But when inewsource dug into the initiative, which would raise the tax on hotel stays, we found language that showed some promises may have to be adjusted in the future.
Here are examples of what could change if voters approve Measure C on March 3:
- The city would get the go-ahead to sell $2 billion in bonds to help pay for all three components in the measure. But if the higher room tax increase doesn’t raise enough money to cover the debt, there’s a possibility the City Council could take money from the general fund to cover the difference. That means money for police and fire services, for example, could decline.
- The sale of bonds could exceed $2 billion. A provision in the measure allows the City Council to lift a cap on bond debt obligations for the convention center expansion after holding a public hearing.
- Many details about how the new tax revenue, officially called the transient occupancy tax, will be spent are unknown and left up to future councils.
For the balance of this article, please go here.
{ 0 comments… add one now }