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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 05311994 - 1.33 1 .33 through 1.37 THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Adopted this Order on May 31,1994, by the following vote: AYES: Supervisors Smith, Bishop, DeSaulnier, Torlakson and Powers NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SUBJECT: CORRESPONDENCE Item No 1.33 LETTER dated May 16, 1994, from S. Ruby,Union Representative,Hotel Employees,Restaurant Employees and Bartenders Union,Local 28,AFL-CIO, 548 20th Street,Oakland 94612,transmitting a fact sheet entitled "The Great Tax Break-How Hotel Owners are Adding to the Revenue Crisis in Contra Costa County." 'REFERRED TO ASSESSOR 1.34 LETTER dated May 16, 1994, from J. Lazarus,Director, Special Projects,City and County of San Francisco,200 City Hall, San Francisco 94102,advising of the establishment of a task force to conduct a study of the feasibility of San Francisco hosting an International Exposition-Expo'99-at Treasure Island and soliciting the Chair's input on the project. `DESIGNATED CHAIRMAN POWERS TO PARTICIPATE 1.35 LETTER dated May 17, 1994, from C. Burkhart, West Contra Costa Unified School District,P.O.Box 4014,Richmond 94802,advising that on June 1, 1994, 7:30 p.m.,at 2625 Barnard Road,Richmond, a public hearing will be held on a fee increase for residential and commercial/industrial construction,which will be effective on June 2, 1994. 'REFERRED TO BUILDING INSPECTOR AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT 1.36 LETTER dated May 12, 1994, from A.Grodin,Mayor,City of Lafayette,P.O. Box 1968, Lafayette 94549, commenting on the concerns of consolidating the fire districts. 'REFERRED TO COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR 1.37 LETTER dated May 19, 1994,from N.A. Orsi,P.O. Box 427,Brentwood 94513,recommending the placement of dry cleaning plants only in industrial zoned areas. 'REFERRED TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR AND HEALTH SERVICES DIRECTOR FOR RESPONSE cc: Correspondents Assessor Building Inspector Community Development Director 1 hereby certify that this Is a true and correct copyof County Administrator an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Health Services Director Board of Supervisors on the date shown. ATTESTED:�fM lk I 1 q4L4 PHIL SATCHECOR,Clerk of the Board of Supervisors and County Administrator By � � , %,O CA4 ` Q ? Hotel Employees, Restaurant Employees and Bartenders Union, Local 28,AFL-CIO Hotel Employees, Restaurant Employees and Bartenders Union, Local 50,AFL-CIO y� o. 548 20th Street, Oakland, California 94612, Telephone:(510)893-3181 FAX(510)893-5362 q4. N. RECEIVED May 16, 1994 MAY 17 0M Supervisor Tom Powers � 651 ,,-Pine Street I``LEEK SOAR OF SUPERVISORS Martinez, CA 9453 l._ CONT.,COSTA CO, J Dear Supervisor Tom Powers, Enclosed please find a fact sheet entitled " The Great Tax Break-How Hotel Owners Are Adding to-the Revenue Crisis-in Contra-Costa County", which is the result.of work conducted by the research department of the Hotel and Restaurant Employees Union.. We find this information disturbing but important in light of the ongoing budget discussions in Contra Costa County. We would like to briefly present the findings of our research,and how it impacts the county,at the next board session. If you would like more information or have any questions please contact me at(510) 893-3181 ext. 116. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, , V Step anie Ruby Union Representative cc: Board of Supervisors Steve Roberti, Central Labor Council of Contra-Costa ®�h�3 . .... ...... -',. .. . ............ ........ ---------------- .............. At CI M K' " M I d 99MEN bb 6 %P ofel Owners Are Adding To The Revenue Crisis In on1firr, Costa County A Fad Sheet developed by the Hotel &Restaurant Employees Union Local 2850 548-20th Street, Oakland, CA 94612 510-893-3181 e--d. 116 THE PROBLEM The Japanese and Hawaiian owners of the Embassy Suites Hotel - a property In this time of intense fiscal crisis for built with the County's blessing and help Contra Costa County,wealthycorporationswhich -saythattheir hotel is nowworth only$19 own property here are requesting-and receiving million, notthe$33 million the County has -massive cuts in their property tax bills. Through on its rolls. Last year,they got the Assessor the County's 'assessment appeals' process, and and the Appeals Board to agree with through deals negotiated directly with the them. The result, almost$150,000 in tax Assessor's staff, these major commercial prop- savings for 1992 alone. ertyowners are arguing that their properties have declined sharply in value in recentyears(by over Lawrence tui, whose billionaire Hong 50% in some cases) and that therefore their Kong family owns the Concord Hilton,got property tax bills should be cut accordingly. his property tax bill cut from about Contra Costa County's hotels stand out $212,000 to $168,000 in 1992. Now among the major property owners which have he wants that bill cut further for 1993, to asked for,and in many cases obtained,these tax only $141,000. brakes. Our research shows that, for the tax years 1991-1993, the owners of seven major The Holiday Inn Walnut Creek hotel hotels - most of whom are based outside the has requested that its assessed value be County, and in some cases outside of the state- reduced from $10.4 million to $4.6 mil- - requested that their property tax bills be cut by lion - a 66% drop! The Assessor has a total of almost$1 .4 million (or 43.3%) to $1 .7 granted them a tax break, but to date million. (Without any reductions, their tax bill refuses to reveal the amount of that reduc- would be approximately$3. l million.)For 1993 tion. alone, six major hotels have together requested almost half a million dollars in tax breaks. Judg- The subsidy which these hotels are ing by what happened in 1992, they will prob- receiving through these assessment re- ably get almost 90% of the reductions they are ductions appears particularly disturbing asking for. when one considers the direct and indi- rect help from taxpayers which some of Here are some of the worst examples of these hotels have received,and in some how major out-of-town hotel owners are shirking cases are still receiving. their responsibilities and siphoning money away from vital services for County residents: For example, the Holiday Inn Walnut Creek.indirectly relies on other County taxpayers to pick up the cost of health insurance for some of The beautiful new Marriott in San its workers and families. By refusing to provide Ramon, owned by wealthy investors who affordable health insurance to most of its employ- are part of a Marriott-managed partner- ees (most of whom earn under $12,000/year), ship, was valued at $33.4 million on or their dependents,the hotel forces employees to county tax rolls for 1993. ButtheMarriott's turn to the county clinics for medical care when tax cut specialists successfully argued that they are sick. The hotel shirks its responsibility, it was worth little more than half that, $18 and other responsible taxpayers pick up the bill. million - for a tax saving of about $161,000. THE SOLUTION .................. a hex ��ea�ws The County Assessor and the Assessment Appeals Board needs to receive strong directive from the Board of Supervisors to be vigilant in opposing reductions for wealthy corporate taxpayers. . � CtS O t to Decisions to reassess property and giving significant taxbreaks must be made in public hearings, not behind closed doors. The Assessor and the Assessment Appeals Board must establish better oversight and standards of this process, such as the use of appraisal methods that maximize value to taxpayers. �espar�Sible �mplo�+e�s V. s. Pverrrrplorers Corporations that conduct business in Contra Costa County must pay their fair share in taxes, and provide decentwages, good benefits, secure jobs - rather than force the burden of caring for the working poor on an already overburdened county social service system - with residential taxpayers picking up the tab. %.00A( Q ? Hotel Employees, Restaurant Employees and Bartenders Union, Local 28, AFL-CIO _ Hotel Employees, Restaurant Employees and Bartenders Union, Local 50,AFL-CIO y 548 20th Street, Oakland, California 94612, Telephone:(510)893-3181 FAX (510)893-5362 0 May 16, 1994 Supervisor Gail Bishop 651-Pine Street Martinez, CA 9453 Dear Supervisor Gail Bishop, Enclosed please find a fact sheet entitled " The Great Tax Break-How Hotel Owners Are Adding to the Revenue Crisis in Contra Costa County", which is the result of work conducted by the research department of the Hotel and Restaurant Employees Union. We find this information disturbing but important in light of the ongoing.budget discussions in Contra Costa County. We would like to briefly present the findings of our research,and how it impacts the county,at the next board session. If you would like more information or have any questions please contact me at(510) 893-3181 ext. 116. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Stephahie Ruby Union Representative cc: Board of Supervisors Steve Roberti, Central Labor°Council of Contra Costa � 3 %.O Cqt Q ? Hotel Employees, Restaurant Employees and Bartenders Union, Local 28,AFL-CIO W _ Hotel Employees, Restaurant Employees and Bartenders Union, Local 50,AFL-CIO 9� O. 548 20th Street, Oakland, California 94612, Telephone:(510)893-3181 FAX(510)893-5362 May 16, 1994 Supervisor Tom Torlakson 651-Pine Street Martinez, CA 9453 Dear Supervisor Tom Torlakson, Enclosed please find a.fact sheet entitled " The Great Tax Break-How Hotel Owners Are Adding to the Revenue Crisis in Contra Costa County",. which is the result.of work conducted by the research department of the Hotel and Restaurant Employees Union. We find this information disturbing but important in light of the ongoing budget discussions in Contra Costa County. We would like to briefly present the findings of our research,and how it -impacts the county,at the next board session. If you would like more information or have any questions please contact me at(510) 893-3=181 ext. 116. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, L I Stephanie Ruby Union Representative cc: Board of Supervisors Steve Roberti,Central Labor Council of Contra Costa @3 `.00g4 Q ?T Hotel Employees, Restaurant Employees and Bartenders Union, Local 28, AFL-CIO W _ Hotel Employees, Restaurant Employees and Bartenders Union, Local 50, AFL-CIO y� `O• 548 20th Street, Oakland, California 94612, Telephone:(510)893-3181 FAX(510)893-5362 c• May 16, 1994 Supervisor Mark De Saulnier 651-Fine Street Martinez, CA 9453 Dear Supervisor Mark De Saulnier, Enclosed please find a fact sheet entitled " The Great Tax Break-How Hotel Owners Are Adding:to the Revenue Crisis in Contra Costa County", which is the-result of work conducted by the research department of the Hotel and Restaurant Employees Union. We find this information disturbing but important in light of the ongoing budget discussions in Contra.Costa County.. Wewould like to briefly present the findings of our research,and how it impacts the county,at the next board session. If you would like more information or have any questions please contact me at(510) 893-3181 ext. 116. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Stephanie Ruby Union Representative cc: Board-of Supervisors :Steve Roberti, Central Labor Council of Contra Costa O3 1 e,i hq t z, t\ 1 r� V � a p,. T t LJ J s t`.5 ct • 4� 1 d: [iG i 1� 1 s i 1 r tom, v4 y s-"