PAINLESS TAX: To city officials, the tax...

PAINLESS TAX: To city officials, the tax on hotel bills is the best kind of tax--one their constituents don’t pay. “It’s the out-of-town people helping us,” said Ojai Finance Director Cyndi Reynolds. . . . Ojai’s 8% hotel tax is the city’s second-largest source of revenue, ahead of property taxes. Most cities charge 8% to 10%. . . . Moorpark has a hotel tax but gets no revenue. It doesn’t have any hotels.

NEXT BASH: Simi Valley Days is winding down (B4), but it’s less than two weeks until Ventura County’s next big shindig: Harbor Days in Port Hueneme, Oct. 2-3. . . . Started in 1954, the maritime-themed event is one of the county’s oldest festivals. “It celebrates the harbor,” spokeswoman Ann Snider said. “The harbor is the heart of the city.” . . . In addition to the obligatory parade, crafts show, food booths and 10K run, Harbor Days has a fishing derby and a boomerang show. . . . Russian dancers are also coming, in keeping with this year’s theme: “Friends Around the World.”

Taxing Tourists

What Ventura County cities collect in transient lodging taxes*: Ventura: $2,366,158 Oxnard: $1,309,804 Thousand Oaks: $1,193,523 Ojai: $912,192 Camarillo: $544,617 Simi Valley: $400,940 Port Hueneme: $199,787 Santa Paula: $54,160 Fillmore: $34,758 Moorpark: $0 * 1991-1992 fiscal year

Source: State controller