Morro Bay gets significant income from tourism. The visitors are drawn to the Bay, the Rock, and the Harbor. The Harbor Department helps the visitors and is responsible to maintain the infrastructure. However, the facilities are aging and in need of major repairs.
Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT or bed tax) has grown significantly with new businesses and small hotels that now occupy almost every second story on the Embarcadero. It is time the Harbor Fund benefited from TOT. A healthy portion of this income stream should flow from the users to cover the costs of maintaining their unique experience. We all desire safe, attractive, and clean spaces. Keeping them sustained demonstrates respect for the natural environment and guarantees visitors will return.
I believe it is time to permanently earmark 5% of the TOT for the Harbor Department.
Barry Branin
Morro Bay
