At their meeting Monday night, the Ione City Council conducted the first reading on Ordinance Number 412 for amending the Ione Municipal Code regarding Transient Occupancy Tax. In 1988, Ione voters approved a measure that imposes a tax on people living in local hotels. In 2004, citizens voted to increase that tax to 10%. It is the responsibility of hotel owners to collect the tax, and then pass the funds onto the city. The city is now in the process of updating their Municipal Code to reflect the increase, although they have been collecting the tax since voters approved the measure.

City Manager Kim Kerr said she expects the process to be finalized by April 15th. In other news, the council heard a generally favorable report on Ione’s Audited Financial Statements for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2007. Certified Public Accountant Larry Bane gave a brief overview of the city’s finances, stating that Ione’s financial position is improving, as records are becoming more organized and things are being done to address weaknesses. The council members, who had already reviewed the report, thanked Bane for his thoroughness and timeliness on the audit, and also voted to extend his contract for an additional three years.