City of Novato, CA
Home MenuMeasure Q Information
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Thank you Novato voters for supporting Measure Q with an approval rating of 76.35%. |
Novato is a city with an excellent quality of life, charming and livable neighborhoods, and vast open space and recreational opportunities. Our goal is to continue to deliver excellent services in a fiscally sustainable manner, and to maintain and enhance the excellent quality of life that our community embraces.
At their September 29, 2020 meeting, while addressing the City's $5.7 million deficit, the Novato City Council made the difficult decision to approve over $3.5 million in budget cuts, including reductions to both services to the community and staffing levels. Even with these decisions, the ongoing deficit is projected to be $2.1 million this fiscal year.
What is Measure Q?
You—our residents—have told us what City services are your top priorities to maintain our quality of life in Novato. These include keeping public areas safe, clean and healthy; ensuring the City is prepared for any future natural disaster or health emergency; supporting local businesses and residents through the COVID-19 recovery; providing disaster and health crisis response; and maintaining 9-1-1 emergency response and capacity in any emergency. It is critical to secure ongoing locally-controlled funding to maintain services and ensure the City is prepared for future emergencies. Novato must be able to be self-reliant during difficult times and maintain services most important to our community.
In response, the Novato City Council unanimously approved placing Measure Q — an increase to Novato's existing, voter-approved local hotel tax — on the November 3, 2020 ballot. Novato's hotel tax has not changed since 1997's voter approval. Measure Q increases the percentage, from 10% to 12%, of the rate paid by hotel and lodging guests as a tax to stay in or use a hotel or other lodging facility. This increase reflects the rate of nearby communities as well as addresses the potential recession ahead. If enacted, Measure Q will provide funding for Novato's local recovery and relief needs and services.
Measure Q is not a property tax or a tax on Novato residents who are not hotel or lodging guests. Measure Q will also include short term rentals, like Airbnb and Vrbo, so visitors continue to pay their fair share for utilizing City services with new lodging types that didn't exist 23 years ago.
The ballot language for Measure Q reads:
To continue funding, for Novato only, that cannot be taken by Sacramento, for general city services including, but not limited to: local COVID-19 crisis relief/recovery; neighborhood police patrols; 9-1-1 emergency response; repairing potholes/streets; supporting business community recovery; disaster response; shall an ordinance increasing the City of Novato’s existing transient occupancy tax by 2% (paid only by hotel/lodging guests), until ended by voters, providing an additional $400,000 annually, with citizens' oversight, independent audits, be adopted?
If enacted, Measure Q would continue to protect essential services and priorities that the community has said are important, including:
- Keeping public areas safe, clean and healthy;
- Ensuring the City is prepared for any future natural disaster or health emergency
- Supporting local businesses and residents through the COVID-19 recovery
- Providing disaster and health crisis response
- Maintaining 9-1-1 emergency response and capacity in any emergency
Novato's Citizens Finance Advisory/Oversight Committee will provide oversight over these and all general funds to ensure funds are spent consistent with community priorities. Measure Q would give Novato local control over local funds for local needs. No funds can be taken by the State.
On November 3, Novato voters will be asked to consider Measure Q to maintain essential City services.
Frequently Asked Questions
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