Survey: Burlingame voters support increasing hotel tax

That number rose higher, to 82.4%, when likely voters were presented with arguments in favor of raising the tax, like local control over the money and its support of basic city needs, and moved down to around 75% with both arguments for and against. 

“Things look really positive. There is concern about the future economy, there is a little bit of softness in our yes, but the numbers are really strong,” Joy Kummer of consultant firm Team CivX said. “We do think some additional outreach and education to the community before you vote to put something on the ballot would be helpful.” 

Non-advocacy communication and continued community feedback will be sought until June, Kummer said, with measure development slated for June and July. The City Council will move toward adopting an ordinance and resolution during that time, Goldman said. 

“We want to make sure we have sufficient time to do all of the outreach we need to do,” she said. “We don't want to rush anything there.” 

If an ordinance moving the measure to the November ballot is approved, a full campaign would be conducted from August to November. 

Currently, Burlingame’s transient occupancy tax, which is a general tax levied on hotels with short-term occupants, sits at 12% and is the city’s second-highest revenue generator, Goldman said previously. Other cities on the Peninsula have already raised their TOT tax to 14% or higher. 

Estimates for the 2025-26 hotel tax sit at $22.8 million, which is far better than the $5.7 million generated during the peak pandemic year of 2020-21 but not a full recuperation to pre-COVID levels, the city said previously. From 2018-19, the city generated $29.4 million in TOT. 

Burlingame also has increasing expenses to consider, Goldman said previously, including funding undergrounding of power lines along El Camino Real, purchasing a new City Hall building and refurbishing the corporation yard. While the city still has a balanced operating budget, its predictions for future years show a net general fund deficit. 

The results of the survey showed Burlingame voters were most concerned with city maintenance of trees and sidewalks, undergrounding power lines, reducing traffic congestion and maintaining safe routes to school.