Bellevue Mayor Christina Giordani on Monday is set to propose increasing the city’s local-option taxes to pay for street improvements and public safety.
LOTs, also known as “tourist taxes” though the tax burden does not fall exclusively on tourists, are intended to help towns offset the cost of hosting large numbers of visitors.
Giordani will ask the Bellevue City Council on Monday to discuss a proposal to place a measure on November ballots asking voters to increase the city’s hotel-motel LOT from 3% to 6% and impose a new 1% LOT on the retail sale of restaurant food and a new 2% LOT on the retail sale of liquor-by-the-drink.
The LOT increase, if it is approved by voters, would last for a term of 15 years.
“The city of Bellevue is committed to maintaining and improving essential publi