Tax Results for the City of Santa Barbara
Sales Tax Results for the City of Santa Barbara – Quarter Ended March 31, 2022
The City of Santa Barbara received $6.4 million in sales tax revenue during the quarter ended March 31, 2022, which is 18% above the same quarter last year. This increase is largely due to improved economic activity since last year, when the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic was starting to gain steam. Other contributing factors are the effects of inflation and continued growth in online sales. The quarter ended March 31, 2022, reflects sustained economic activity that was not significantly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The March quarter is the third quarter of the City’s fiscal year and the sales tax revenue budget for the fiscal year is $23.2 million.
For additional information on recent sales tax results, see the attachments link below.
Transient Occupancy Tax Results for the City of Santa Barbara – Month Ended June 30, 2022
The City of Santa Barbara collected $3.2 million in transient occupancy taxes (TOT) for June 2022. TOT revenues in June 2022 were about $307,000 above June collections last year—which was impacted by Covid-19 restrictions and travel advisories. Compared to the pre-pandemic levels of June 2019, revenues were higher by 40%; however, this is largely due to increased average daily rates, which are 44% higher than June 2019.
The local travel industry’s steady improvement in demand for rooms has continued into the summer season as more Covid-related restrictions have been lifted. As of June, occupancy levels have continued to stabilize around pre-pandemic levels. The City has collected $31.7 million through June, the twelfth and last 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 in the attachment below. 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.