San Mateo County Voters To Decide 3 Measures That Would Increase SFO Related Taxes

SAN MATEO (KCBS) — San Mateo voters are set to decide the fate of three proposals that would tax services related to San Francisco International Airport. Some are calling it tourism taxes.

Measures T,U and X are the names of the ballot measures that would create a new eight percent tax on airport parking, add a 2.5 percent tax on airport rental cars and a two percent tax on hotels near the airport.

San Mateo County Supervisor Dave Pine explained the interesting politics behind SFO's location and who's in charge.

"San Mateo County is in a unique position because while the airport is located in our county, it is owned, operated and governed by the city of San Francisco."

He also said the city of San Francisco receives upwards of $50 million in connection to the operation of the airport, while San Mateo County receives relatively little.

"The county supports the airport with transportation assets, emergency medical services," Pine said.

Like many municipalities, San Mateo County's budget is strained. Pine claims without the tax increases, there will be cuts to critical county services.

KCBS' Margie Shafer Reports:

"San Mateo County already collects taxes from visitors who use the airport, who stay in hotels, who use rental cars. Don't overdo it. Don't tax too much to basically kill the goose that lays your golden egg," he said.

President and CEO of the San Francisco Travel and Tourism Association, Joe Del'Assandro, said the proposed tax increase on car rentals would be the second highest car rental tax in the nation and a recent survey of meeting planners by the Association finds conventions will go elsewhere if the taxes pass.

"It'd be bad for business. It makes people vote with their feet and just go somewhere else,"

Supervisor Pine feels differently.

"For the most part these taxes will be picked up by visitors. They are modest and I doubt they will notice them on their invoices," he said.

The three measures need a simple majority to pass.

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)