Antioch Votes in Favor of Landlord Tax, Measure O Passes by 180 Votes

Antioch residents passed Measure O Tuesday night by a thin margin which will implement a business license tax on residential property owners and increase the business license tax on business.

According to County Elections Wednesday Morning, Measure O passed with 50.88% (5,208) in favor versus the 49.12% (5,028) against—a difference of just 180 votes. A total of 10,236 voters were casts

Landlords will now be forced to pay $250 per detached single-family dwelling unit (house) and $150 per attached, multi-family dwelling unit (apartment). It also increases the annual Business License Tax to $100—except for certain home occupation businesses which will remain at $25.

It’s estimated that the Measure will generate approximately $2.3 million annually in additional revenue for the General Fund based on approximately 11,500 total residential rental units, but will be offset by approximately $300,000 in costs to administer the additional tax.

The revenue generated from the tax will go towards Antioch’s General Fund where it’s expected to pay down future debt in 2016-17 and prevent city cuts in staff and services—a deficit is expected to be in the area of $3.3 million. It also has the possibility of returning staff to 40-hour work weeks and improving services.

The “No on Measure O” Committee spent $173,575 as of October 24, 2014 to unsuccessfully defeat the Measure while the “Yes on Measure O” Committee spent around $10,000.