Low unemployment rates in San Luis Obispo County have made it a struggle for businesses to find and retain employees.

One of the biggest factors contributing the problem is the lack and cost of childcare.

“Some people pay more for childcare than they do for their mortgage on their house and that makes it where it doesn’t make sense for you to go to work,” said Jim Dantona, San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce President.

Any visitor who comes to stay in San Luis Obispo can expect to be greeted with smiling faces, beautiful scenery, locally owned businesses, and… the Transient Occupancy Tax. From a quick night in a hotel to a week-long spell in an Airbnb, every time a tourist stays here they contribute to tax revenue that adds to the city’s General Fund.

Since the City of SLO established the TOT, revenues have gone nowhere but up. And in fiscal year 2018-2019, the change was particularly impressive: a 7.3 percent increase, with total revenue reaching more than $8 million.

To reduce the negative environmental impact of polystyrene, the City of San Luis Obispo issued an ordinance in June 2015 which bans the use of disposable food containers made from expanded polystyrene. But with a new, county-wide ordinance under consideration on September 11, we figured it was time for a crash course on that light, convenient material we all know and use.