Supervisor Jerry Muenzer suggested a possible increase to the lodging tax – from eight percent to 12 percent – at a recent board meeting.
He said the rate under such a raise would make it comparable to that of San Juan Bautista, which already has a 12 percent transit occupancy tax rate.
Muenzer contended that the increase would help fund efforts to promote the City of Hollister and the county, including recreational areas such as Pinnacles National Park and Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area.
“I just threw it out there” as an idea, he said in a phone interview Wednesday.
Muenzer said other supervisors seemed receptive.
“It provides services for people who come into area,” Muenzer said. “It also provides a funding mechanism to promote the community.”
He said that most people do not know they are being taxed when they rent a hotel room – and that this is a way to spur promotion efforts and increase revenue from visitors coming to the community.
He stressed that the tax would affect people who are visiting the area and not local citizens.
Muenzer said if the board supports the idea, he would hope to have it on the ballot in November 2014 to be put up for a vote by San Benito County residents.
“We have to enter discussions with the city and see if the city is interested in it,” he said.
