County residents hit by South Tahoe tax

By Kathryn Reed

People who live in El Dorado County using the 96150 ZIP code could find themselves paying more for vehicles than they have to.

The 2004 voter approved Measure Q only applies to South Lake Tahoe, but with the same home ZIP code for the South Shore, the tax is getting applied to county residents.

The additional 0.5 percent transaction and use tax is applied to purchases in the city limits. But that’s not the only time, and that’s why county residents may be getting hit with a tax that isn’t applicable to them.

“Measure Q is also collected on purchase transactions made outside the city limits that must be registered such as cars and boats, or where the merchandise sale includes delivery, such as with furniture,” explained Christine Vuletich, South Lake Tahoe finance director. “The tax on these types of purchases is allocated back to the city if the purchaser resides in South Lake Tahoe.”

A Lake Tahoe News reader who lives in El Dorado County had a run-in with the Department of Motor Vehicles regarding a vehicle she was registering. She was able to get a refund when the ZIP code issue came to light, but was told by DMV she “must let them know in advance next time.”

South Tahoe collects between $1.8 million and $2 million a year from Measure Q. This money goes into the general fund to pay for police, fire, snow removal, and parks and recreation, Vuletich said.

Measure Q does not have an expiration date.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles contends with many extra fees that have nothing to do with actual vehicle registration. Here are some of those DMV fees.