San Diego

The county’s tourism tax would be increased from 6% to 8% under a proposal by county Supervisor George Bailey. Pointing out that the tax on hotel and motel rooms was last increased 12 years ago, Bailey proposed in a letter to his board colleagues that the levy be raised March 1. A county staff survey of some other jurisdictions in California found that two other counties have tourist tax rates below 8% and that three have rates of 10%. While the City of San Diego’s tourist tax rate is 7%, four other cities in the county have rates of 8%. The money is used to promote tourism directly and to subsidize public and private programs that are seen as attracting or benefiting visitors. Bailey’s proposal will be taken up by the Board of Supervisors next week.