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Hanford council votes unanimously to place 4-point hotel tax increase on June ballot
Summary
Council adopted a resolution to place a measure on the June 2, 2026 ballot asking voters to raise the city transient-occupancy (hotel) tax from 8% to 12%; staff estimates roughly $375,000 in annual revenue earmarked for general services, and the tax would take effect July 1 if voters approve.
At the Feb. 17 City Council meeting, staff presented a resolution to place a transient-occupancy-tax (TOT) measure before Hanford voters at the June 2, 2026 primary election. The proposal would amend the municipal code to raise the maximum hotel tax from 8% — unchanged since 1985 — to 12%.
City staff explained the measure is a transactions-and-use-tax for general revenue purposes; the staff report estimated the increase would generate approximately $375,000 annually and identified uses including police, fire, parks and maintenance of city infrastructure. The measure requires a majority vote by city voters to pass. If voters approve it on June 2, staff said the rate would take effect July 1, 2026.
Councilmember Hayden moved to adopt the resolution; Vice Mayor House seconded. The council approved the motion on a 5–0 roll-call vote and directed staff to submit the required documents to the county elections office and begin voter information outreach.
Staff said the community relations manager will begin an information campaign to provide facts to voters about the ballot question before the early-March submittal deadline to the county election office.
