The Effects of Measure K
Letter to the editor

In November 2004, Mission Viejo voters soundly defeated an attempt to increase the occupancy tax in hotels in Mission Viejo by 59.4 percent to 40.6 percent. It was on the ballot as Measure K. There was an attempt by two of our incumbent council members to increase the tax from 8 percent to 10 percent. They offered an argument that since people come into our city, they should pay increased fees for the use of city services.

This convoluted logic makes little sense because taxes of all forms affect residents of our city as well as non-residents. Each time we use a hotel or refer a family member or business associate, the increased tax would affect all of us. Taxes are discriminatory and affect everyone.

It was good to see that our voters were wise enough to throw out Measure K, and it represents a blot on the record of elected officials who supported it. Let’s hope in the future those who favor higher taxes are not placed in office.

James Edward Woodin
Mission Viejo