Voters reject ballot measure to raise Hanford’s hotel tax from 8% to 12%
Hanford voters rejected the city’s hotel tax measure with 57.64% opposing it, according to Kings County election results.
Tuesday’s night results show Measure T, known as the Hanford transit occupancy tax, got 37.75% support but needed more than 50% of the votes to pass. A total of 9,380 votes had been submitted in the initial count, with 3,712 in support and 5,668 votes against it.
“Since the beginning, we’ve maintained that Measure T would be up to the voters of Hanford to decide on. We appreciate and respect their participation and the ultimate outcome,” city officials said in a statement Wednesday afternoon. “We believe the measure would have benefitted residents in many ways and had the added benefit of not affecting their pocketbooks, but rather (those of) out-of-town visitors.”
The measure would have increased Hanford’s TOT from 8% to 12%, a tax comparable to surrounding cities’ rates. The cities of Visalia and Tulare have a 10% TOT, while Porterville, Fresno, Selma, and Kingsburg have a 12% TOT.
The hotel tax is a charge to people who stay at a hotel, motel, or other short-term rental for 30 days or less. The TOT is paid by overnight visitors, not residents.
According to the city, the increase would have provided an additional $375,000 annually for the general fund, which funds public safety, parks and recreation services and public infrastructure.
In 2024, Hanford residents approved Measure H, a 1% sales tax increase, with more than 60% of the vote. Its passage raised the local sales tax to 8.25%, generating an estimated $19 million annually to fund essential city services.
“Those dollars are already making a tremendous impact through new projects, additional employees, and enhanced services,” said city officials.
