South Lake Tahoe vacancy tax proponents invite public to community happy hour

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A local group of South Lake Tahoe residents is organizing a community happy hour where those interested can stop by to discuss affordable housing solutions and learn more about the residential vacancy tax ballot initiative, now circulating.

The meeting will take place on Thursday, February 15 at Classic Cue in South Lake Tahoe from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Residents can come ask policy questions and discuss their vision for affordable housing in the community. Those interested can also sign the petition or sign up to help gather the 1,500 signatures needed to get the vacancy tax on the November 2024 ballot.

Currently, more than 7,000 houses (44 percent of all housing units) in South Lake Tahoe sit empty most of the year while residents struggle to find and afford housing, a statistic that advocates for the vacancy tax seek to change.

“Empty homes hurt our community and our economy,” said Amelia Richmond, president of Locals for Affordable Housing. “As local families have been priced out, our population has shrunk by 10 percent and school enrollment has dropped by 36 percent since 2000. With school funding based primarily on attendance rather than property taxes, the loss of families has caused significant budget shortfalls and new parcel taxes on local homeowners as schools struggle to make up the losses.”

Advocates cite that if only 20 percent of the 7,150 vacant homeowners in South Lake Tahoe shift to rent or sell to residents, it will add over 1,400 new homes for the local community – more than have been built in the last ten years – while simultaneously generating over $34 million per year. As a dedicated use tax, these funds can be used ONLY for local housing, road infrastructure, and transit – South Lake Tahoe’s most critical needs.

“Without bold action, the housing crisis will continue - as it has on the North Shore, where the vacancy rate is now 70% in many places,” said Richmond. “The Vacancy Tax is the only housing and funding solution that addresses the scale of our community’s critical needs.”

Those interested in learning more, volunteering, or donating can visit www.TahoeVacancyTax.com