City of Westminster Measure O — Westminster City Services Measure (Orange County)

What it does

To fund general city services such as fire, paramedic, police, 911 emergency response, disaster preparedness, keeping public areas safe/clean; addressing homelessness; maintaining parks, and addressing speeding/unsafe driving; shall the measure increasing Westminster’s tax paid by hotel/motel guests (transient occupancy tax), from 8% to 12%, providing approximately $452,000 annually in new funds until ended by voters, requiring audits, spending disclosures, funds controlled locally, be adopted?

A YES vote means

Westminster's hotel/motel guest tax would rise from 8% to 12%, raising about $452,000 a year in new funds for city services until ended by voters.

A NO vote means

Westminster's hotel/motel guest tax would stay at 8%.

Needed to pass

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Left–right lean

Unclear: our AI read of the official summary isn't confident enough (we require 70%) to place this on the left–right spectrum, so we don't. Read the summary and decide for yourself.

The YES and NO lines are SpectrumVote's plain-language reading of the official text above; the official text is what you vote on.

Official text: source

Explained

Example

For every $100 of room rent, the tax would go from $8 to $12. (source)

Who would notice

Hotel and motel guests staying 30 days or less in Westminster (mostly visitors) and Westminster hotel operators who collect the tax. Residents who do not stay in local hotels would not pay it.

How it got here

The Westminster City Council placed Ordinance No. 2639 on the ballot. As a general tax, it needs a simple majority.

Written by SpectrumVote from 1 linked sources (1). Arguments are each side's own, not ours; the official text is what you vote on.

Background

According to the City Attorney's impartial analysis, Westminster currently charges an 8% transient occupancy (hotel) tax on guests staying 30 consecutive days or less, and Measure O, an ordinance placed on the ballot by the City Council, would raise the rate to 12%.

The analysis states the tax is a general tax: proceeds go to the general fund and may be used for any lawful municipal purpose; the services listed in the ballot question are examples the Council identified as funded through the general fund.

Under Ordinance No. 2639, the tax proceeds must be audited annually by an independent accountant, the Council may not raise the rate above 12% without voter approval, and the change would take effect January 1, 2027.

No arguments for or against the measure were submitted for the voter guide.

Put on the ballot by Westminster City Council (Ordinance No. 2639 submitted to voters).

From official source.

Next elections here

• 2028 presidential election · Who has filed so far, from FEC filings

Also on Orange County ballots

• City of Costa Mesa Measure C — The Costa Mesa Fair Business License Reform, Small Business Protection Measure
• City of Irvine Measure D — Measure Directing the Use of Ranked Choice Voting for City Council Member and Mayoral Elections after January 1, 2028
• City of Laguna Beach Measure E — An Ordinance of the People of the City of Laguna Beach, California, Adding Section 2.04.080 to the Laguna Beach Municipal Code to Establish Term Limits for City Council Members
• City of Lake Forest Measure F — Lake Forest Election Reform and Voter Choice Measure
• City of Los Alamitos Measure G — Los Alamitos Hotel Tax (TOT Measure)
• City of Newport Beach Measure H — City of Newport Beach General Plan – Amendment
• City of Orange Measure I — City of Orange Public Safety/Essential Services Measure
• City of Orange Measure J — City of Orange Hotel Guest Tax Modification Measure
• City of Orange Measure K — Proposed Charter for the City of Orange
• City of Placentia Measure L — Placentia Hotel Tax Measure
• City of San Clemente Measure M — San Clemente Natural Hazards Sales Tax Citizens Initiative
• City of Santa Ana Measure N — Santa Ana Streets, Public Safety, Essential City Services Measure

All Orange County races and measures →

Quick answers

What does a YES vote on City of Westminster Measure O mean?

Westminster's hotel/motel guest tax would rise from 8% to 12%, raising about $452,000 a year in new funds for city services until ended by voters.

What does a NO vote on City of Westminster Measure O mean?

Westminster's hotel/motel guest tax would stay at 8%.

Do residents pay this tax?

Only when they stay as guests in a Westminster hotel or motel for 30 consecutive days or less; it is collected from hotel guests based on the room rent.

Is the money restricted to the listed services?

No. It is a general tax deposited in the general fund for any lawful municipal purpose; the listed services are examples the Council identified.

Were arguments filed?

No argument for or against Measure O was submitted.

How many votes does City of Westminster Measure O need to pass?

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Should I vote yes or no on City of Westminster Measure O?

SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.

When is the vote?

The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.