The Anaheim City Council will weigh a potential entertainment tax ballot measure next week at its Oct. 28 meeting.
Spearheaded by Councilmember Natalie Rubalcava, the “Anaheim Tourism Tax” ballot measure would propose to voters a 3% city tax on admission tickets to theme parks and sports and entertainment venues with a “capacity exceeding 20,000 people.”
The ballot measure proposal also includes a parking tax of 10% targeting facilities with a capacity of more than 1,500 spaces.
The taxes, which would only apply to privately owned or operated venues, would not apply to the Anaheim Convention Center.
Honda Center, which has a maximum capacity of 19,000 people, and the OCVibe project under development fall short of that capacity caveat and visitors using the parking structures don’t pay at the time of parking. Parking costs are included in their event ticket.
The taxes, however, would apply to Disneyland’s two theme parks and Angel Stadium. But Angel Stadium, per an existing lease agreement in place through 2038, would likely be entitled to a rebate of any admission and parking taxes collected, city officials said.
Anaheim does not currently have an entertainment tax.
The combined taxes could raise $108 million to $164 million annually for the city’s day-to-day operations, officials have estimated.
Five of Anaheim’s seven councilmembers would need to support putting the measure before voters for it to go on the November 2026 general election ballot.