Public hearing on proposed Lodi Winery Business Improvement District draws divided winery community

San Joaquin County supervisors held a public meeting Oct. 7 to take testimony on a proposed Lodi Winery Business Improvement District that would add a 1.5% assessment on taxable on-site wine sales at participating Lodi-area tasting rooms, county staff and proponents said.

The BID proposal, presented by Stuart Spencer of the Lodi Wine Grape Commission and Gina Reed of Civitas, is the second of three county hearings required under Government Code Section 54954.6. The proponents said funds raised would be governed by a new entity composed of small, medium and large winery representatives and Visit Lodi members, and would be used for shared promotion and visitor marketing.

Proponents argued the assessment would expand the region’s customer base and generate economic benefit across San Joaquin County. “This effort is really about promoting the wineries in our region and bringing more people to Lodi,” said Stuart Spencer, who said San Joaquin County leads the state in acres planted to wine grapes and that direct-to-consumer sales are…