La Puente’s Bed Tax May Be Doubled
The price of a good night’s rest in a La Puente hotel will soon cost more because of a City Council decision to double the town’s bed tax.
The council approved a 10% transient occupancy, or bed tax, last week despite pleas by some hotel managers to leave the tax at 5%. Those opposed to the tax hike said it would thwart business in an already sour market.
The city, which is operating on a deficit and expects to use up about $2 million in reserves this year, hopes to collect an additional $18,000 a year by doubling the bed tax.
The new tax will become effective Oct. 27, assuming the council gives it final approval at its Oct. 26 meeting.
A survey of bed tax rates charged by other San Gabriel Valley cities shows La Puente’s 5% tax is well below the valley average of nearly 10%, according to Rick Hartmann, the city’s community development director.
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