South Tahoe hitting non-tax paying rentals
South Lake Tahoe has collected nearly $40,000 this year in two cases of people who were not paying transient occupancy tax money for their vacation rentals.
South Lake Tahoe Police Department, which runs the vacation home rental department for the city, conducts routine audits to ensure TOT is being collected.
A recent audit of a vacation home rental yielded just more than $14,800 in TOT and penalties. The owner denied renting out the vacation home despite evidence to the contrary, according to city officials. When the owner refused to voluntarily comply, a criminal investigation was conducted which showed the owner had been renting out the vacation home since at least 2008.
The owner eventually opted to comply by becoming permitted. Had he not, felony embezzlement of public fund charges could have been pressed.
Earlier this year, another routine audit totaled more than $24,000 in past TOT fees. That owner arranged a payment plan.
Owners who fail to pay TOT as required are stealing from the city, according to Police Chief Brian Uhler. TOT is one of the city’s three main revenue sources.
— Lake Tahoe News staff report
Four questions:
1. What is the estimated lost revenue from non permitted rentals and non-compliant rentals?
2. How much does the City spend enforcing it?
3. How much revenue is lost to the City by allowing grow houses?
4. How much do we spend shutting down grow houses?
Start collecting TOT from timeshares where the occupant doesn’t own the Tahoe property but is transferring their payment from another location.
Have to chuckle with regard to the City and their felony embezzlement of public fund charges against vacation home owners who are not permitted. How about the recent breach of contract with regard to our city employees; police department, etc. Nothing like working 30 years under a city contract, then retiring and finding out from your city manager that the city cannot afford to pay for your health benefits which were promised from the beginning of their employment. The city seems to find the money when it comes to other projects or events; the recent improvements along HWY 50, but when it comes to our streets, there is no money. Or, how about our lovely Snow Globe event which is paid for by the taxpayers, not to mention by the tourists who pay the TOT to stay in a vacation rental. Must be a wonderful experience to vacation in beautiful Lake Tahoe as a tourist and have to listen to the loud booming noise from Snow Globe and have no way to escape it.
The city has been neglectful on collecting TOT forever.
They got 40,000 and the naysayers got no vacation time.
How many more millions has the city and county overlooked because of their malfeasance? Believe me the small time VCR TOT cheaters are never caught and the big time cheaters are rarely brought to justice.
There are inexpensive methods that can be implemented to gather all TOT but both the city and county don’t give a darn as they are so flush with cash.
Hitting?
The Tahoe Keys Marina has been renting out vacation units for years even thou they are not approved for that. Nancy Kerry of SLT has been made aware of that & sent Dave Walker of SLT to verify it. After Walker verified that Tahoe Keys was in violation , the city did nothing. Once again GM Spinnato gets away with it.
Kerry and Walker should be charged with negligence. If we can’t get Spinnato directly then hit the two non-seers and then maybe something will get done. This is getting out of control. The laws/rules seem to apply to some and not others. Where is the justice????
Here’s an idea….Let’s use the forum for truth and constructive comments to help us all.
I’m all for public opinion and discussion but not when facts and truth are used only as a last resort. For example:
Capt. Steve, you could take a moment to look on the City’s website to see that clearly the Tahoe Keys Marina does have a vacation rental permit. Just because you reported it to the city and Nancy Kerry sent Dave Walker to investigate it doesn’t mean that your accusation was true. Trust but verify.
Legal Beagle, you seem to have an idea on an inexpensive method to implement and gather the TOT. I’m sure that is just what the city is looking for…have you shared your ideas with anyone? It would be the good citizen thing to do if you haven’t.
All I’m saying is that we all want to make this a better city/county within our means. Why not do something positive? When we have the time or expertise, why not share it. Determine the facts, speak the truth and share your ideas for solutions.
Another example of government blood sucking….
I would like to know the answers to levels questions also.