In today’s newscast:
Mixed support for proposed Monterey County tax ballot measures
A significant majority of voters in unincorporated Monterey County would likely support a 2% tax increase for hotel and lodging guests—a transient occupancy tax—if such a measure were placed on the November ballot.
A property transfer tax also has support, but not necessarily enough to pass.
That’s according to the results of a feasibility survey commissioned by the Board of Supervisors.
When asked if they would support a 3% property transfer tax on home sales over $10 million to fund housing affordability programs, 51% of respondents said they would.
But, in order to pass, that measure would need to clear the two-thirds threshold.
The transient occupancy tax would only need a simple majority to pass.
On Tuesday, the Board will decide whether to move forward with one, both, or neither ballot measure.
Healthcare nondiscrimination bill moves forward
A healthcare nondiscrimination bill authored by Central Coast Assembly Member Dawn Addis is moving forward in the state legislature.
The Fair Care for All act would “ensure that no individual is excluded from healthcare coverage or services based on a protected class,” Addis said during a recent Senate health committee hearing.
Her bill defines “sex discrimination” to include any discrimination on the basis of gender identity, sexual orientation, or sex stereotypes.
“Really this is a very, very simple bill that codifies discrimination protections that are already in federal law,” Addis said, “So it just takes those anti-discrimination provisions and puts those into state law. Very simple bill.”
She cited the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle discrimination protections as a reason to codify them in state law now.
