The City of Scotts Valley and the Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce and invite local business owners and operators to join city officials at 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 22, to talk about the community’s business license tax program today and into the future.
City officials value businesses input in the conversation about the current business license tax program and potential changes as well as updates to the program.
In recent years, Scotts Valley has contracted with HdL, a private company in Fresno, to collect on an annual basis business license information from those doing business in Scotts Valley.
HdL was founded in 1983 by Bob Hinderliter, former Commerce city manager, who developed the first computerized sales tax data program devoted to analyzing California sales tax allocations. In 1985, he was successful in getting a bill passed to allow cities to share their confidential sales tax data with a private company.
Lloyd de Llamas, former city manager of Monterey Park, purchased 50% of the company in 1987. Hinderliter died in 2023.
HdL also offers services to audit transient occupancy taxes from hotels and short-term rentals, utility users taxes, shop local campaigns, and market analytics.
Scotts Valley’s top source of revenue is sales taxes, providing 47%, and property taxes 20%, transient occupancy tax/hotels, 8%.
In 2022-23, city expenditures totaled $19.68 million, according to the Comprehensive annual Financial Report.
As of June 30, 2023, the city reported a $20.8 million net pension liability, and $11.2 million net other retire benefits liability.
There will be two opportunities to join the conversation on May 22:
- In person at the Scotts Valley Community Center at 1 pm
Register: https://tinyurl.com/SVBusinessWorkshop1pm
- On Zoom at 5 pm
Register: https://tinyurl.com/SVBusinessWorkshop
At the meetings, business owners will learn about the City’s financial sustainability challenges and opportunities along with information about business license tax programs in neighboring communities.