The Napa Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with our Board of Directors and Government Affairs and Policies Committee, would like to urge voting Napa residents taking part in the November elections to vote “Yes” on County Measure I.
Measure I — along with accompanying Measures D, E, S, F and H (depending on your respective city/town of residence) — would increase the current Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) by one percent. All money derived from this 1 percent special tax would be designated specifically to provide “Workforce Housing” programs and projects throughout Napa County.
If approved in all six jurisdictions, an estimated $5 million in annual funding will be created and retained locally to help address our critical housing shortage. It’s also very important to note that this proposed tax is entirely paid for by overnight visitors and collected, monitored and expended by our local government.
Creating this funding source is vital to our economy, environment and quality of life. Creating local housing opportunities for workers will help local businesses attract and retain employees, and reduce commute distances. Having a home close to work helps integrate employees into the community and improves their quality of life.
Each of these measures must receive a two-thirds vote to pass, so it’s important to understand how critical it is to vote Yes.
Travis Stanley, President/CEO
Napa Chamber of Commerce