Controversial ballot measure to raise the County’s Tourism tax

HUMBOLDT COUNTY, Calif. (KIEM)- Humboldt County supervisors got an earful at their meeting today over a controversial ballot measure to raise the county’s tourism tax.

Voters in June will be asked to approve a hike in the tourism tax which is also known as the hotel bed tax.

The increase from 10 to 12 percent would generate about 800-thousand dollars in revenue.

But Humboldt county’s lodging alliance is upset over the tax measure.

The group that represents the local hotel and motel operators say supervisors rushed to put the measure on the ballot and engaged in deceptive behavior.

“There’s nothing on the ballot for the con because we weren’t given an opportunity to put one there. So now it’s just your statement and we have no say. We’ve kind of feel backstabbed. And so, all I can say is I’m not impressed,” said Gary Stone, Humboldt Lodging Alliance.