2020-091 - Results of Majority Protest Proceedings

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b) The assessment is a charge imposed for a specific benefit conferred or privilege granted directly to the payor that is not provided to those not charged, and which does not exceed the reasonable costs to the local government of conferring the benefit or granting the privilege. c) The assessment is a charge imposed for a specific government service or product provided directly to the payor that is not provided to those not charged, and which does not exceed the reasonable costs to the local government of providing the service or product. d) Assessments imposed pursuant to the SATMD are levied solely upon the assessed business, and the business owner is solely responsible for payment of the assessment when due. If the owner chooses to collect any portion of the assessment from a transient, that portion shall be specifically called out and identified for the transient in any and all communications from the business owner as the "Tourism Marketing Assessment' or `Tourism Assessment' as specified in the Plan. Section 7. The assessments levied for the SATMD shall be applied towards sales and marketing programs to market Santa Ana lodging businesses as tourist, meeting and event destinations, and other improvements and activities as set forth in the Plan. Section 8. The annual assessment rate is two percent (2%) of gross short-term room rental revenue. Based on the benefit received, assessments will not be collected on: stays of more than thirty (30) consecutive days; stays of any officer or employee of a foreign government who is exempt by reason of express provision of federal law or international treaty; stays pursuant to contracts executed prior to January 1, 2021; and stays by any federal or state officer or employee while on official business only and when payment for such occupancy is made directly to the operator by duly authorized voucher payment from a governmental accounting office. This exemption does not exempt a transient who is employed by the United States government or the state or their respective instrumentalities from payment of the assessment when the payment is later to be reimbursed by the United States government or the state or their respective instrumentalities. Section 9. Assessments levied on lodging businesses pursuant to this resolution shall be levied on the basis of benefit. Because the services provided are intended to increase room rentals, an assessment based on room rentals is the best measure of benefit. Section 10. The assessments for the entire SATMD will total approximately $2,400,000 in year one (1). Section 11. Bonds shall not be issued to fund the SATMD. Resolution No. 2020-091 Page 3 of 6