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Council places 3% transient‑occupancy tax increase on November ballot, defers golf‑tax decision
Summary
Rancho Palos Verdes council voted to place a measure on the November 3 ballot to raise the transient‑occupancy tax from 10% to 13% and to defer deciding on a proposed golf‑tax increase (10%→up to 15%) pending further analysis; staff surveys showed majority voter support for both measures after education.
The Rancho Palos Verdes City Council on July 21 voted to place a transient occupancy tax (TOT) increase from 10% to 13% on the November ballot and to postpone further action on a proposed increase to the city’s golf tax.
Staff presented follow‑up survey results from June (401 likely November voters; margin of error ±4.9 points) showing continued public support for priorities such as street maintenance, wildfire preparedness, landslide mitigation and public safety. Survey testing of hypothetical ballot language found about 65% support for the TOT increase after education and roughly 63% support for a golf‑tax increase in the testing sample.
The proposed TOT ballot language presented to council read, in part, that revenues would "help prepare for and respond to wildfires, natural disasters, maintain roads, storm drains, prevent sinkholes, address landslides, land movement, and support general city services" and would require audits and public spending disclosures. Staff estimated additional revenue of approximately $2.2 million annually if the TOT increases to 13%.
During the hearing, a representative of Trump National Golf Club urged the council not to place a golf‑tax increase on the ballot, arguing it would harm business and employment and that many golfers are local residents who would shoulder the increase. Several councilmembers expressed concern about competitiveness for local golf operations and asked for further analysis of market and resident impacts.
Given those concerns, council voted to receive and file the survey and to place the TOT (10%→13%) on the November 3, 2026 ballot while deferring the golf‑tax decision to allow staff to gather additional information and return with details. The motion to proceed with the TOT and defer the golf tax passed on a unanimous roll call.
Next steps: Staff will draft the final ballot question language and prepare the required impartial analysis, and the City Attorney will be directed to prepare the official materials. The council also authorized the drafting of direct arguments and set priorities for filing written arguments for the TOT measure.
