LA County Cities Propose Hotel Tax Increases to Fund Local Services

Several cities in Los Angeles County are pursuing methods to increase local revenue streams, primarily through hotel tax hikes. These proposals would place the additional tax burden on travelers staying in hotels. In Burbank, the proposal is to increase the transient occupancy tax from 10% to 12%, expected to generate about $3 million annually for city services. This tax would be paid by hotel and motel guests, not directly by residents.

The increased taxes are intended to fund essential services in these cities, including public safety, 911 emergency response, disaster preparedness, parks, libraries, and streets. Critics note that these higher hotel taxes could make accommodations more expensive and potentially discourage tourists from visiting.

County tax measures affect city services, with Mayor Karen Bass leading city policy.