We, the undersigned, express our strong opposition to the imposition of a vacancy tax in South Lake Tahoe. We believe that such a tax would have negative consequences and fail to address the root causes of the housing shortage. Bottom Line, This is not there house to rent. 

They have built this measure specifically targeting those who have second homes here who are not voter registered in this city. This is a city measure and voted by the constituents in this city, who are highly incentivized and poorly, and culturally misinformed to the local crisis and alternatives. Are you willing to change your residence with the Register of voters? What a headache this could become?

Also a violation of the Procedural Due Process: Property owners have a right to procedural due process under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments, which includes notice and an opportunity to be heard before the government deprives them of their property interests.

• There is no expiration of this Measure.
• There is no information on how the annual declaration of occupancy will be made at this time. This is very problematic for those that value their privacy.
• This measure appears to violate the Takings Clause in the 5th amendment of the constitution, which prohibits the government from taking private property for public use without just compensation. Property owners may argue that a vacancy tax diminishes the value of their property or deprives them of beneficial use without compensation.
• PLEASE read the loosely built measure and the negative consequences it could have on all residents of SLT.  https://www.laketahoe.com/vacancytax?fbclid=IwAR0BNTtAdAXaqVbQjt8M_7TLooyYBIR5Is1l-DD664y8DyAMyFckXJOYpXU_aem_AXP3S54f1dLAxF2Pn_yyd6ddxTY8JNQGku5ZIw9VQD9n5DzG13pmUB_jOM563W0yYrGz0K3eHTA8WmgtgFkA5i-8

Reasons for Opposition:

1) Unfair Burden: A vacancy tax unfairly penalizes property owners without addressing the underlying reasons for property vacancy. Many property owners may have legitimate reasons for their properties being vacant, such as renovations, awaiting sale, or personal circumstances. Imposing a tax without considering these factors places an undue burden on property owners. Bottom line its not their house to say, We have to rent it and if we don't we will pay $3,000 the first year and $6,000 there after. 

2) Impact on Property Market: A vacancy tax could distort the property market by discouraging property investment and development. Investors may be deterred from purchasing properties in areas with a vacancy tax, leading to stagnation in the property market and a decrease in property values.

3) Turning their heads to Alternatives: Instead of implementing a vacancy tax, we believe that local governments should focus on addressing the root cause of the housing shortage. Why not have made it a part of the Tahoe Blue Event Center revenue or tax's to contribute to a fund for housing. Why not use an existing and old infrastructure to replan and zone into something magnificent, near state line and near transit. There are options.

4) Administrative Challenges: Enforcing a vacancy tax would require significant administrative resources ($$$$) and could lead to disputes and legal challenges over property classifications and exemptions. Also, the way in which they would infringe on your privacy by checking your utility usage, credit card history, cell phone records, (Yes, its being done) These resources ($$$$) would be better spent on implementing more effective solutions to address housing alternatives. 

Conclusion:

VOTE AGAINST    / VOTE NO     / VOTE NOT IN FAVOR

In conclusion, we believe that a vacancy tax is not the solution to addressing property vacancy and could have unintended negative consequences for property owners and the wider community. We urge policymakers to reconsider the implementation of such a tax and instead focus on alternative measures to tackle property vacancy.

Personal Note:

We have rented our home with long term contracts here in South Lake Tahoe with an absolutely horrible outcome. Our home was severely unkept and nearly destroyed. It took 8 months to get the trash out and renovate, at our expense. Like you if you own a second home here, you are paying your taxes and contributing to the great local community when you come. After all, we love Tahoe and probably why you bought a house here in the first place. This measure is not the answer.