Hotel Tax Results Nearly $900k Above Last Year

Source: City of Santa Barbara

Transient Occupancy Tax Results for the City of Santa Barbara – Month Ended April 30, 2022

The City of Santa Barbara collected $3 million in transient occupancy taxes (TOT) for April 2022. TOT revenues in April 2022 were about $893,000 above April collections last year. Compared to the pre-pandemic levels of April 2019, revenues were higher by 52%; however, this is largely due to increased average daily rates, which are 51% higher than April 2019.

The local travel industry’s steady improvement in demand for rooms has continued into the spring season as more COVID-related restrictions have been lifted. As of April, occupancy levels have continued to stabilize around pre-pandemic levels.  The City has collected $25.7 million through April, the tenth month in the City’s fiscal year. The City’s adopted TOT budget for all funds is $23.4 million, of which $19.5 million is budgeted in the General Fund. 

The Transient Occupancy Tax table can be viewed here. The City’s TOT tax rate is 12%.  10% goes to the City’s General Fund and the remaining 2% goes to the Creeks/Clean Water Fund.