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Letter to the Editor: Vote and#8216;yesand#8217; on Measure F

I know conventional wisdom tells us not to engage in debates in the newspaper, but a column in last weekand#8217;s paper suggested that not renewing the 2 percent occupancy tax dedicated to public infrastructure would be a good thing for our community. Nothing could be further from the truth.

According to the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association, the 2 percent of Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) paid by guests staying overnight in the region has generated more than $2 million each year over the last 16 years to fund and maintain public transportation and infrastructure projects and programs throughout the region.

Those funds have been leveraged to more than $160 million via local, state and federal grants and other partners for projects such as the Squaw Valley Community Park, Tahoe Vista Recreation Area, Tahoe City sidewalks, Heritage Plaza, increased transit services, the Maritime Museum, bike trails throughout the region, Commons Beach restoration, and the upcoming Kings Beach Commercial Core Improvement Project.



The author stated that there was misrepresentation about the future of the Tahoe City Golf Course. As president of the TCPUD Board, I attended 13 meetings about the golf course acquisition including the one that was cited. At every meeting, it was explained that a public planning process would be undertaken to address the communityand#8217;s desires for the property and that a five year lease was being signed with a golf course operator. The only long-term commitments made were to one critical guiding principle and#8212; the community will decide.

Community voice is critical to our future. Letand#8217;s continue improving our community with high-quality public projects, letand#8217;s make sure visitors help pay, and letand#8217;s make sure we have local control. Support Measure F and do not lose this critical funding that provides millions of dollars specifically for projects in our area.



Judy Friedman

Tahoe City PUD board chair


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