BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — During its meeting Tuesday morning, the Kern County Board of Supervisors approved taking preliminary steps for a potential hotel tax measure that could be placed on the November ballot.

Kern County’s transient occupancy tax is paid by visitors staying at any lodging facility — such as hotels, motels or short-term rental properties — for 30 days or less in unincorporated Kern.

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As of last week, unincorporated Kern County had 87 hotel and motel certificates and 639 short-term vacation rental certificates, Deputy County Administrative Officer Jason Wiebe said during his presentation on Tuesday.

Kern County’s TOT rate is 6%, which is lower than the averages for statewide counties, San Joaquin Valley counties and Kern County cities.

According to Wiebe, TOT revenue is one of the county’s few sources of unrestricted funding. It’s used to fund county services including public safety, law enforcement, animal services, library services, economic development, parks and more.

Last year, Kern County’s TOT revenue was $3.8 million.

If the county’s TOT rate was the same as the city of Bakersfield’s — 12% — the county would get nearly $4 million additional revenue per year as there is generally a direct correlation between the percentage increase and percentage collected, Wiebe said.

Wiebe said the tax increase would not have much impact on Kern’s tourism in general, although individual businesses could be affected depending on factors like location or competition.

District 4 Supervisor David Couch warned the last time a measure to increase the TOT rate was presented to voters, some people voted against it as they thought it was taxing the homeless population.

Couch also mentioned the county’s agreement with the Hard Rock Casino Tejon — which is set to open a hotel in the future — spells out an in-lieu tax for TOT.

According to the agreement between the Tejon Tribe and Kern County signed in 2019, the Tribe doesn’t pay Kern County taxes like other businesses or residents do. Instead, the Tribe makes payments in lieu of taxes to reimburse the county for essential services like fire, sheriff, public health and more.

The agreement says following the opening of a hotel on its property, the Tribe has to pay the county a 6% fee of the revenue for occupied hotel rooms. This functions similarly to a TOT, according to Kern County spokesperson Erin Briscoe.

Couch asked staff to consider how the TOT rate increase would impact that if it were to get voter approval.

County Counsel is still evaluating this and will inform the Board once it has an answer, Briscoe said.

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The Board directed county staff to take the next steps, which includes receiving feedback from voters as well as stakeholders in the travel and tourism industry and Kern County’s Chamber of Commerce.

Supervisors also asked staff to prepare a full report showing results of polling data and stakeholder feedback no later than May 19.

If the Board wishes to add the measure to the November ballot, it would need to introduce an ordinance no later than June 16 and adopt it by Aug. 7, county officials said.

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