Pleasanton City Council examined four revenue options — a transient occupancy (hotel) tax, sales tax, parcel tax, or general obligation bond — to address a $100 million structural deficit and voted to study a hotel tax further. Projected annual revenues range from $1.4 million to $10.8 million depending on the option, with differing voter approval thresholds. The council already cut library hours, reduced parks maintenance, and laid off two employees to close a $12 million budget gap. Officials estimate an additional $6 million to $9 million in annual cuts over the next decade. Voters rejected a half-cent sales tax measure in November 2024, and the council debated polling costs for a potential new measure.
The hotel tax could generate between $1.4 million and $2.8 million in new revenue annually, the sales tax $10.8 million per year, the parcel tax $10.2 million and the bonds $9.7 million, officials said. The first two options would need a simple majority to pass, while the latter two would require a two-thirds majority. "Every bit of new money that we can bring in is going to help," City Manager Gerry Beaudin told the council at its Aug. 19 meeting.
Already, the council in June council voted to cut library hours, reduce parks maintenance and lay off two employees to help close a $12 million hole in the city's two-year budget. City finance officials estimate the city will have to make between $6 million to $9 million in additional cuts annually through the next 10 years. Voters rejected a half-cent sales tax measure in the November 2024 election,
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