Committee forwards administrative rules to implement voter‑approved vacancy tax

The Rules Committee on June 7 forwarded to the full Board of Supervisors an ordinance establishing administrative provisions to administer the commercial vacancy tax approved by voters on March 3, 2020.

Amanda Freed of the Treasurer‑Tax Collector’s office presented the item, describing it as routine “trailing legislation” to align filing, payment, audit, penalty and confidentiality procedures with the city’s business tax framework. The office said the ordinance would require annual informational returns from each owner or lessee in the neighborhood districts where the vacancy tax applies, whether or not the filer believes they owe the tax, to allow the office to track vacancies and take appropriate action.

The committee voted without objection to forward the administrative provisions to the full board with a positive recommendation. The measure is intended to make the vacancy tax effective on Jan. 1, 2022, and to align audit and enforcement provisions with other business tax measures.