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Trinity supervisors debate increasing TOT and sales tax to shore up services
Summary
Supervisors and members of the public debated raising the transient occupancy tax (TOT) and a one‑cent sales tax as ways to generate revenue to sustain and expand county services; some officials argued the taxes largely fall on visitors, while others urged patience and further study.
A county supervisor urged the board to consider increasing the transient occupancy tax (TOT) and the local sales tax to raise revenue and avoid further cuts to county services, a proposal that drew discussion from fellow supervisors and members of the public during the budget hearing.
A speaker identified in the transcript as a supervisor argued that Trinity County’s current TOT rate is among the lowest in California and said doubling it to roughly 10% could add about $3.4 million in revenue. “We need to pass the TOT tax… we are at the very, very, very lowest end of a TOT tax of 5%,” the supervisor said, urging voters to approve increases. The speaker also recommended a one‑cent sales tax to increase discretionary revenue.
Why it matters: Board members and staff said additional local revenue would increase discretionary funds available to restore or expand services, but supervisors also noted the political difficulty of asking voters to raise taxes and the need to analyze impacts and alternatives. The board discussed an existing plan to preserve $70,000 of TOT‑derived funding for tourism partners and the potential for a Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) or other local measures to target visitor‑funded programs.
Key details - Supervisor comments: A supervisor urged a TOT increase from 5% to about 10% and proposed a one‑cent sales tax, arguing visitors bear the burden and that similar jurisdictions levy higher rates. - Board response and next steps: Supervisors asked staff to analyze costs and benefits before advancing an ordinance or measure. One supervisor asked for a targeted staff analysis of zoning code or cannabis ordinance timing relative to the growing cultivation season (a separate request recorded during the same meeting). The board agreed to keep $70,000 in the proposed budget for tourism partner allocations and to proceed with an ad hoc review of tourism grant requests. - Community comment: Representatives of tourism groups and the chamber of commerce supported continued county support for tourism partners and said recent data showed increased TOT receipts; they urged continued funding for promotion and partner coordination.
Caveats and process Board members emphasized that any tax measure would need voter approval and clear public outreach; staff and supervisors urged careful analysis of who would be taxed and how revenue would be spent. One supervisor noted that TOT is charged to non‑residents (overnight visitors) and therefore is designed to offset visitor impacts rather than raise resident taxes.
Ending: Supervisors asked staff to prepare analyses and follow the ad hoc committee process for allocating the current $70,000 aimed at tourism partners; they did not direct immediate changes to local tax rates at the hearing.
