Election Information
2024 Presidential General Election November 5, 2024
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE General Municipal Election is to be held in the City of Mission Viejo on November 5, 2024, at which time there will be submitted to the voters the following measure:
Measure to the Mission Viejo Voters "Ordinance of the People of the City of Mission Viejo, California, Amending Section 3.25.030 of Chapter 3.25 of Title 3 of the Mission Viejo Municipal Code Increasing the Maximum Rate of the City's Transient Occupancy (Hotel) Tax From 8% to 12 % Effective on January 1, 2025".
Notice of Deadlines for Arguments for and against as well as Rebuttals
- Argument in Favor of Measure ___
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The TOT is a crucial tool for enhancing the quality of life in Mission Viejo. By increasing the tax from 8% to 12%, an increase of approximately $670,000 would be realized.
The revenue is vital for several reasons. Safety in the community can be enhanced by allocating additional funds to police, crime prevention, and 911 emergency response services.
Another area to consider is the improvements that could be made to the infrastructure of Mission Viejo. Repair and maintenance of the streets, sidewalks, storm drains, among other various improvements, would make the city more accessible and enjoyable for the small business owners, residents, and the visitors.
Providing community improvements by providing better maintenance of public spaces such as the parks and other recreation areas would enhance the quality of life for residents and would make the city attractive to visitors. Visitors would be exposed to the many restaurants and retail stores the City of Mission Viejo has to offer.
It is important to consider fair market alignment as Mission Viejo has the lowest rate presently at 8% while the County average is 10.4%. Increasing the rate to 12% would align the City more closely with neighboring areas, ensuring that it remains competitive while still generating necessary funds.
TOT primarily affects the tourists and visitors rather than the residents and business owners. This means the financial burden falls on those who are using the services temporarily rather than the permanent residents.
Implementing the TOT increase can provide substantial benefits to the City of Mission Viejo, it’s businesses and residents ensuring better services and a higher quality of life.
Doug Zielasko - CEO, Mission Viejo Chamber of Commerce
- Argument Against Measure ___
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The City of Mission Viejo currently imposes an 8% transit occupancy tax (TOT) on its visitors who stay at our hotels and short-term rentals.
The City Council is asking for a public vote to increase it to 12%, which is excessively high even in Orange County.
The average rate in Orange County is 10.4%.
A 12% tax is such an unreasonably high tax rate that it becomes a deterrent, especially to bookings by such groups as visiting sports teams, because they can simply choose a different competing city.
The City of Laguna Beach produced a June 2024 Staff Report that revealed the following information: the cities of Costa Mesa, Irvine, La Palma, Laguna Hills, Los Alamitos, Mission Viejo and Westminster hotel tax is 8%.
South Orange County cities of Aliso Viejo, Dana Point, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano are 10%.
A 12% hotel tax is assessed in the cities of Buena Park, Seal Beach and Stanton.
The OC Register opposes this counterproductive 50% tax increase and wrote: "Instead of being an excuse to increase the tax, enjoying the lowest TOT in OC ought to be Mission Viejo's brand."
Cathy Schlicht, former Mayor, Mission Viejo
- Impartial Analysis
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CITY ATTORNEYS IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS
CALIFORNIA ELECTIONS CODE SECTION 9280
MEASTURE ____The City Council placed Measure __ on the ballot for the November 5, 2024, general election. The proposed change in City of Mission Viejo law is an ordinance amendment that increases the City’s current transient Occupancy Tax amount charged to short term occupants in the City from the current eight (8%) percent to an increased amount of twelve (12%) percent. The potential new total amount of 12 percent is a special tax, meaning it can only be used for the specific purpose set forth in the ballot language. If approved by two-thirds (2/3rds) of the voters, the new 12 percent special tax will wholly replace the current 8 percent general transient occupancy tax that the City has maintained as it’s tax rate for many years. The current general tax Transient Occupancy tax can be used for any lawful purpose.
The proposed 12 percent special tax may only be used for payment of:
a) Paying for police services
b) Funding emergency responses as necessary
c) Maintaining city infrastructure assets as necessary including streets, sidewalks, storm drains and trails.The expenditures will be audited by an independent auditor and the results disclosed annually.
If the increase to twelve (12%) percent, as a special tax to be used as stated is not approved by two-thirds (2/3rds) of the voters, then the existing eight (8%) percent general tax, which can be used for any lawful purpose will continue without interruption.
A - Yes vote is in favor of the tax increase from an 8% general tax to a 12% special tax
A - No vote is against the tax increase and will maintain the current 8% general tax rate
The above statement is an impartial analysis of Measure __. The full text of Measure __ is printed in the Voter’s Information Pamphlet and is also available on the City of Mission Viejo’s website at: cityofmissionviejo.org. If you desire a copy of the Measure, please call the election official’s office at (949) 470-3052 and a copy will be mailed at no cost to you.
William P. Curley, III
Mission Viejo City Attorney
The next General Municipal Election for Mission Viejo City Council will be in November 2026
For more information please visit the Orange County Registrar
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Municipal Election History
View the Municipal Election results, including a history of ballot measure questions as they appeared on each ballot, voter registration data, a listing of all elected Council Members, and a list of all Mayors and Mayor Pro Tems.