Auto Rental News
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

San Mateo County Measures Fail, Would Have Assessed New Business License Taxes on Rental Car Companies

An 8 percent tax on parking companies and a 2.5-percent tax on rental businesses fail.

by Staff
December 3, 2008
2 min to read


The nationwide economic turmoil is at least partly responsible for the defeat of two San Mateo County tax measures that would have raised $11.5 million through new business license taxes on rental car companies and parking facilities in the county's unincorporated areas, county supervisors said in an article by Bay Area News Group.

Most of those businesses are near the San Francisco International Airport.

Ad Loading...

Voters on Nov. 4 rejected Measure Q and Measure R on Nov. 4, a setback to the county's effort to close a $28.6 million structural deficit. The measures’ chances for passage dimmed as the country’s financial crisis worsened. Supervisor Rich Gordon, who proposed the measures along with Supervisor Mark Church, said “I think we felt that it was going to be certainly a difficult time to ask people to have businesses dig deeper.” Measure Q, an 8 percent tax on parking companies, failed with 52.6 percent of voters opposed and Measure R, a 2.5-percent tax on rental businesses, failed with 52.9 percent opposed, according to the elections office. They each needed a majority vote to pass. Gordon said voters may be more receptive to the business license taxes in 2010, the next year that general purpose taxes can be placed on the ballot, if the economy has recovered and the budget issues persist. County budget officials say the deficit could grow to more than $90 million if no action is taken. Len Almalech, vice president and general manager of Enterprise Rent-A-Car, who spoke out against the taxes, said supervisors should not try to balance their budget “on the back of one single industry” that is also struggling. “We’re glad the voters of San Mateo County saw this as an additional burden on an industry that was unfair and unjust,” Almalech said.

More Rental Operations

Woman receiving car rental rates on computer from AI agent
Rental OperationsSeptember 1, 2026

Who Owns the Rate? AI Is Creating a New Distribution Problem for Car Rental

Generative Engine Optimization asks whether AI can find a rental company, but operators also need to know whether the agent inspected enough of the market, compared equivalent offers, and presented a rate the traveler can actually book. (Part 1 of 2)

Read More →
map of globe with regional corporate car rental rates
Rental Operationsby StaffAugust 25, 2026

U.S. Business Travel Car Rental Rates Forecast to Rise Up to 2%

Improved fleet supply should limit pricing gains in 2026-27, while insurance, repair costs, and softer residual values continue to pressure rental operations, according to Amex GBT.

Read More →
Sixt H1 financial results
Rental Operationsby StaffAugust 14, 2026

Sixt Revenue Tops $2.4 Billion in First Half of 2026

Sixt’s first-half revenue surpassed $2.4 billion for the first time as demand outpaced fleet growth, lifting utilization and earnings despite weaker consumer sentiment in North America.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Bobby Klyce in memoriam image
Rental Operationsby Chris BrownAugust 13, 2026

In Memoriam: Bobby Klyce, Avis Licensee Legend

The longtime Birmingham Avis operator and 2018 Auto Rental News Impact Award recipient was remembered as an advocate for independent licensees and the broader car rental industry.

Read More →
Vibe coding webinar promo image
Rental Operationsby StaffAugust 12, 2026

How to Build Custom Fleet Tools With AI and Vibe Coding [Webinar]

A new Automotive Fleet webinar explores how fleet managers are using AI and vibe coding to automate routine work and create simple operational tools without traditional programming skills.

Read More →
Globe image with Text: GBTA Business Travel Forecast

Car Rental Rates Forecast to Rise 3.6% in 2026 Before Easing in 2027

Car rental rates are projected to rise less than airfares and hotel rates in 2026, then become the only major travel category forecast to decline in 2027, according to projections from GBTA and ALTOUR.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Car rental sign with financial graph in background
Rental Operationsby Chris BrownAugust 2, 2026

Avis Cuts Fleet as Summer Demand Trails Expectations

Avis Budget Group increased second-quarter earnings despite lower Americas revenue and softer-than-expected summer demand. The company also expanded Avis First and advanced its autonomous fleet operations with Waymo.

Read More →
car rental booking engine on computer screen with text: Bookings aren't the whole story
Rental OperationsAugust 1, 2026

Why Bookings Are Only the Start of the Rental Day

A reservation captures demand. The operating test is whether the business can keep the customer, vehicle, commercial terms, and next action aligned until the rental is closed.

Read More →
Rental Operationsby Chris BrownJuly 31, 2026

This Is the Oldest Car Rental Advertisement You’ll Ever See

This ad for Saunders Drive it Yourself, believed to be the first car rental company in the U.S., was found in an Omaha phone book from 1926.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A counter agent chats with a customer over a rental counter
Rental OperationsJuly 21, 2026

The Desk Upsell Is Costing Operators More Than it Earns

Counter upsells generate revenue, but they can also slow transactions, erode trust, and cost repeat business. Fully inclusive pricing may offer operators a better path to long-term value.

Read More →
Ad Loading...