A new city survey is raising questions about support for a proposed downtown soccer stadium as Modesto leaders consider a potential increase to a local hotel tax.
The survey, presented during a recent city budget workshop, asked voters how they would like to see new tax revenue spent. While the idea of increasing the city’s transient occupancy tax received majority support, a professional soccer stadium ranked last among spending priorities.
The transient occupancy tax, often referred to as the TOT tax, is paid by guests staying in hotels and short-term rentals. City leaders are considering raising the tax by three percent, bringing it to 12 percent. If approved, the increase could generate about one million dollars annually for general city services…