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3h ago

Appeals Court Affirms San Diego’s Measure C, Paving Way for Convention Center Financing

The decision allows the city to begin arranging financing for convention center upgrades.

An arial view of the San Diego Convention Center, as pictured on Aug. 4, 2025. (K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
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Overview

  • The Fourth District Court of Appeal upheld Measure C as a citizens’ initiative that needed only a simple majority, validating its 65.25% approval in 2020.
  • City officials project roughly $82 million in fiscal year 2026 and about $1.04 billion over the first decade from the higher transient-occupancy tax.
  • The tax rates, raised in May, now stand at 13.75% near the convention center, 12.75% in mid-range areas and 11.75% farther away, applying to stays under 30 days.
  • The City Council is slated to adopt a clarifying ordinance to realign timelines delayed by litigation and to implement financing, including potential bond issuance.
  • A settlement with Fifth Avenue Landing prevents physical expansion until after 2026, and opponents from CTAN are weighing a possible petition to the California Supreme Court.