The Center for Regional Economic Analysis at Sonoma State University has published a report on the economic impacts of same-sex marriages on the Sonoma County economy over the next three years.
Economics Professor Rob Eyler, Director of CREA, says the major policy recommendation from the study is to market Sonoma County as a destination wedding location to same-sex households throughout the United States, especially outside of California.
California has the largest number of same-sex couples of any state in America.
Various tourism studies agree that most of Sonoma County's tourism is generated from within California itself, Eyler says.
Couples coming to Sonoma County, their spending on a ceremony and reception, and the tourism expenses of the couples and their guests will create direct economic effects, the report notes.
Highlights of Sonoma County's impacts for 2009 to 2011 include:
* Between 431 and 864 jobs are created;
* Business revenues are increased by $40.2 million to $80.7 million countywide;
* State and local tax revenues generated range between $2.4 and $4.8 million; and
* Local workers, both new and existing, receive between $13.7 and $27.6 million in new wages.
"Natural tourism flows, the County's welcoming reputation, and its desirability as a backdrop for "destination weddings" could draw a certain proportion of same-sex couples to plan a wedding and reception in Sonoma County, as well as stay in local hotels, eat at local restaurants, and visit local wineries and other tourism attractions," Eyler says.
"Like a rock dropped into a pond, these direct expenditures cause follow-on economic benefits; this study estimates the total effects."
These effects include new jobs, business income and local taxes.
Initial expenditures in services industries, specifically food and beverage services, hotels and motels, and entertainment facilities lead to retail and professional services expenditures and jobs.
Many of the jobs that will be created are in categories that could attract Sonoma County residents who may currently be unemployed or underemployed.
This is especially true for working mothers, as many of these jobs are likely to be flexible in scheduling.
Tax revenues could be directed to augment social services for lower-income working families; approximately $900,000 to $1.8 million in revenue will go for human, health, police and fire services.
The CREA report was funded by a grant from the Horizons Foundation, a philanthropic social justice organization, serves the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.
"The continued ability of same-sex couples to marry provides ongoing, beneficial annual impacts to the Sonoma County economy,"Eyler says.
The report indicates these impacts would be eliminated in the event that voters pass State Proposition 8 on the November 2008 ballot.
The Center of Regional Economic Analysis (CREA) at SSU provides research, data, and analysis for local industry and governments. For more details on its mission, visit http://www.sonoma.edu/org/crea/.
For further information, contact Economics Professor Rob Eyler, (707) 664-4256
THE FULL REPORT CAN BE FOUND AT:
SAME SEX MARRIAGE STUDY
