Supervisors advance plan for 2% Amador County Tourism Marketing District over objections about short‑term rentals and housing

The Amador County Board of Supervisors voted 3‑2 on March 25 to declare its intention to form the Amador County Tourism Marketing District, a proposed 2% pass‑through assessment on short‑term lodging, and to set a public meeting for April 22 and a public hearing for May 27.

The measure would add a 2% line item to lodging receipts paid by visitors, not by residents, to be collected quarterly and used for countywide tourism marketing. Tracy Birkner, cofounder of the Amador Council of Tourism, told the board, "It is a 2% assessment on all short term rentals...and that is paid for by the visitor." She said the district would run five years and that the plan guarantees that "no less than 77% of the funds raised would go directly to marketing efforts."

Proponents from Visit Amador and the Amador Council of Tourism described a 13‑member governing board (seven lodging seats to maintain a lodging majority), a marketing subcommittee and an annual plan intended to target mid‑week visitation, cooperative advertising with Visit California and Visit Gold Country, and audits conducted periodically by HDL, the proposed administrator. Organizers provided several implementation details: a working board intended to include short‑term rental hosts, bed‑and‑breakfast owners and larger hotels; a marketing committee of five members with at least three lodging seats; and an intent to contract with HDL to collect the assessment and perform audits.

The presenters estimated first‑year collections in the range of $200,000 and argued that successful marketing could increase visitor spending and generate additional TOT (transient occupancy tax) revenue for jurisdictions across the county. One presenter, citing Lake County’s recent TMD experience, said a 9% rise in visitor spending there suggested the potential for larger downstream tax receipts; organizers estimated, under one scenario, up to roughly $600,000 per year in increased tax revenue countywide if visitor spending rose substantially.

Opponents and some public commenters raised housing and fairness concerns. Several speakers argued that expanded short‑term rentals reduce housing stock and make the county unaffordable for local workers and families. Logan (a resident) said Amador’s limited housing supply and high share of nonprimary residences merited local policy action before broad marketing. Others asked whether short‑term rentals that are unregistered or managed off‑site could be assessed; presenters said the district would include properties registered for TOT and that cities and the county would need registration and enforcement policies to capture unregistered short‑term rentals. Elizabeth Nelson, Treasurer/Tax Collector, asked for clarity about who would collect and enforce the assessment; organizers said HDL would be contracted to collect the TMD funds and that the money would not be routed through the county treasury.

Legal questions also surfaced. A commenter citing Streets and Highways Code section 36632 argued certain residentially zoned properties could be exempt; county counsel and staff disputed that reading, saying the proposed assessment is a business assessment rather than a property assessment and that the statute’s residential exemption addresses property assessments.

After extended public comment and board discussion, Supervisor Epperson moved to adopt a resolution declaring the board’s intent to establish the district; Supervisor Brown seconded. The board voted 3 in favor, 2 opposed. The motion sets a public meeting for April 22 and a public hearing on May 27 where the district’s boundary, final assessment methodology and ballot/majority protest procedures will be presented to the public.

What happens next: the county will notify registered lodging properties and the cities, the board will solicit city resolutions to include incorporated areas, HDL will mail notices and the public will be able to comment again at the hearing. Organizers said the district would not be operative until the hearing and any required protest period are completed and the board takes a final establishing action.

Votes at a glance • Resolution of intention to establish Amador County Tourism Marketing District — Motion to set public meeting (April 22) and public hearing (May 27): Moved Supervisor Epperson; second Supervisor Brown; outcome: approved 3‑2.