Rental tax hike could generate $19M for county

County officials will meet with parking and rental car company representatives Monday to discuss a proposal to tax up to 8 percent of their business.

The meeting will occur just a day before the Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote on whether to place the tax proposal on the November ballot. If passed, the tax would generate approximately $19 million a year for the county budget, according to the county.

The proposal seeks to levy an 8 percent business license tax on commercial parking lots and a 5 percent business license tax on rental car companies. The county would generate in excess of $15 million in the parking lot tax and more than $4 million with the rental car tax, according to the county.

Last month's vote was postponed after representatives from the rental car industry convinced the board to delay their vote.

The proposal was introduced by supervisors Mark Church and Rich Gordon.

South San Francisco and San Bruno already impose an 8 percent business license tax on commercial operators within their jurisdictions. Millbrae imposes a 10 percent tax on commercial parking lot operators.

There are currently commercial parking lots and rental car companies in unincorporated San Mateo County at the San Francisco International Airport, valet parking at restaurants and hotels, according to the county.

California law requires the board to adopt the ordinance for the ballot initiative at a regularly scheduled meeting at least 80 days before the election. Tuesday marks the last regular meeting outside the 80-day window. The proposal must earn at least four votes on the five-member board to qualify for the ballot, according to the county.