SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — People living in South Lake Tahoe have cast their votes on a ballot measure that would establish a vacancy tax in the city.
Measure N, if passed, would require property owners to pay a tax on nonexempt residential units in the city that are vacant for more than half the year.
Property owners who don't live in South Lake Tahoe full-time would be impacted by the tax, but they weren't able to vote on the measure.
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What is a vacancy tax?
Amelia Richmond is the co-founder of Locals for Affordable Housing, a group behind the vacancy tax. The ballot measure is based on Berkeley's vacancy tax with similar rules and restrictions.
According to Richmond, if the vacancy tax passes, homeowners would pay $3,000 the first year and then $6,000 in subsequent years if the home remains unoccupied for 50% of the year. The money from the tax could only be spent on housing, roads and transit with housing as a top priority, according to Richmond.
Owners of vacant homes could be exempt from paying this tax by renting to a local resident. There are other exceptions to the tax including properties under active renovation, in probate, and homes of people currently in a care home or long-term medical treatment.
The South Lake Tahoe City Council previously considered a vacancy tax, but the Director of Development Services for South Lake Tahoe, Zach Thomas, said ultimately the city council voted not to pursue the tax and continued with other programs.
Find more on housing resources in South Lake Tahoe HERE.
Read the measure text below:
“Shall the measure to tax property owners who keep nonexempt residential units in the City of South Lake Tahoe vacant more than 182 days/year, $3,000/unit for the first year of vacancy and $6,000/unit for subsequent consecutive years, subject to CPI adjustment, with exceptions, generating between $10,000,000 to $20,000,000 annually until ended by voters, to be used only for housing, roadworks, transit, and administrative and legal costs, with administration overseen by oversight committee, be adopted?”
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