Banning Voters Consider Extending Hotel Tax

Voters in Banning will consider Tuesday whether to extend a tax that's generated hundreds of thousands of dollars over the last few years.

Residents will decide on Measure E, which would permit the city to continue collecting a 12 percent transient occupancy tax from hotels and motels.

In 2009, voters authorized increasing the local TOT from 6 percent to a maximum 12 percent. According to city officials, since that time, the tax has generated about $600,000 in general fund revenue, accounting for roughly 5 percent of money available for discretionary appropriations.

Supporters argue that the tax, which is charged to hotel and motel occupants for overnight stays, is comparable to what many localities in the region impose, and cheaper than others, including Riverside, where the TOT is 13 percent.

No opponents were listed.

– City News Service contributed to this report.