Scotts Valley voters deserve more answers before raising the hotel tax to 13%

Scotts Valley voters deserve more answers before raising the hotel tax to 13%

Measure G would give Scotts Valley the highest hotel tax rate in Santa Cruz County, writes Santa Cruz County Hotel & Lodging Association President Bijal Patel. Patel says the city moved forward with the new tax proposal without an independent economic study or meaningful dialogue with local hotels, which supported a smaller increase to 12%. Higher taxes might help the city, but they could hurt hotel workers, local businesses and tourism, he writ…