NO on FF
NO on FF
MEASURE FF
Santa Rosa has placed local Measure FF on the Ballot for this November 5, which would effectively raise the TOT tax that guests pay by 2% to 11%. With the current TOT and BIA, that would make the total effective tax to guests 16%, the highest in the county and among the highest tax in the state.
This comes after Santa Rosa banned in 2021 any future Vacation Rental permits, limiting all future growth in revenue from guests to our city or needed income for local residents.
What happens when you limit the supply of STR's? Prices to stay in Santa Rosa increase.
When you combine the ban on more supply, and then add additional taxes to current Short Term Rental Hosts, it essentially says to people: DO NOT VISIT OUR CITY. STAY AWAY!
And where is the business going? Towns and county areas surrounding Santa Rosa are already reaping the benefits of greater growth in visitation, investment, and jobs.
Current caps limit the number of Vacation Rentals in Santa Rosa to a total of less than 182 and falling.
We agree there should be sound regulation around noise, nuisance and safety. If that is done properly, economic benefit from Short Term Rentals can help our community thrive.
What is proposed in Measure FF, is tax policy that is anti-growth, anti-jobs, and continues to send the message that we do not want people to visit.
Mayor Rogers makes the claim that the taxes are paid by tourists. What about the people who travel here for their own healthcare, to work with businesses in our community, traveling nurses and doctors who care for us, pilots and flight attendants at our growing airport and others? They are all subject to this increase.
The majority of hosts have only one short term rental. For many of them, this provides needed income to make ends meet. Measure FF, will make it harder for them. Add to that, the cost of an initial permit at $1282 and ANNUAL RENEWAL at $886 is already a heavy tax on hosts, some of whom may only rent out one bedroom in their home. These are the highest permit fees in Northern California.
Additionally, we are facing a slow down in high end wine sales, one of the key drivers of our economy. Higher TOT taxes will only make our future more fragile.
