ENCINITAS -- Voters in Encinitas have seen a sand tax proposition on the ballot before and, in November, they'll see another.

The first such measure came a decade ago, when the city asked voters to raise taxes on hotel, motel, and bed-and-breakfast guests by 2 percent and put that money in a separate fund for sand replenishment for the city's beaches.

That was Proposition R, and voters approved it by a resounding margin.

The second measure was on the ballot less than six months ago, when Encinitas voters were asked whether to extend the 2 percent sand tax to short-term vacation rentals -- homes or condominiums that tourists can rent for 30 days or less.

That measure, Proposition G, was narrowly defeated when it failed to gain the two-third majority needed to pass.

On Nov. 4, another version of Prop. G, now called Proposition K, will be back on the ballot.

Chris Carrico, an Encinitas real estate broker who has followed the issue, said she can't believe the city is returning to voters so soon with the same proposal.

"The people have already spoken and they said no," she said. "To have a City Council that doesn't respond to its citizens is outrageous."

However, proponents of the tax said they believe it has a better chance of passing now because they're pouring more time and energy into the campaign.

Steve Aceti, executive director of the California Coastal Coalition, is leading a "Yes on K" effort.

"(The tax) almost passed last time and no one knew about it," Aceti said last week. "This time, we did some public outreach and we have been able to raise some money to pay for mailers and signs and do a real campaign."

Aceti said that his committee had raised about $3,500 in support of the proposition. Between January and September, the committee, called Citizens for Sand, raised only about $1,900 to lobby for the June measure, according to Aceti.

The San Diego Association of Governments has said North County beaches are losing 300,000 cubic yards of sand every year and must be frequently replenished.

State and federal agencies embarked on a huge project in 2001, spending $17.5 million to dump 2.1 million cubic yards of sand along San Diego County's coastline from Oceanside to Imperial Beach.

A study released by SANDAG earlier this year showed sand levels at North County beaches lower than they were in 2001, before the replenishment project took place. The report said heavy waves last year may have contributed to the decline.

Encinitas now spends $40,000 a year for sand replenishment at Moonlight Beach alone, according to city reports. The city's finance department has estimated that Prop K. could bring in about $50,000 annually for sand replenishment.

Opponents of Prop. K have not launched any formal counterattack, but have written an opposition statement that will appear on the November ballot.

The statement was a collaboration between City Council candidates Joe Sheffo and Bob Nanninga, as well as Lani Lutar, president of the San Diego County Taxpayers Association, and Richard Rider, chairman of San Diego Tax Fighters.

Sheffo said he opposes the measure for a number of reasons.

"First, I am against it in principle because we have already got enough taxes, especially when the economy is slowing down," Sheffo said.

Aceti has said the Encinitas measure is just one step toward keeping beaches sandy. He said plans are under way for another regional sand replenishment effort that could cost about $28 million.

Sandy beaches are important for wildlife, as well as for a healthy economy, he said, adding that half the money spent on the 2001 project was to examine its effect on marine habitat.

"(The studies) found that with more sand we had more habitat for species like the Western snowy plover, the least tern and grunion," he said.

Sandy beaches also bring in tourist dollars, said Aceti.

"I think sand is huge for the economy and I think it is huge for quality of life," he said.

However, Carrico -- the real estate agent -- said the tax will hurt only tourists and property owners. Out-of-towners will have less money to spend in Encinitas and the roughly 125 homeowners who rent out their homes in the city will face an unfair burden, because they already pay three times the property taxes as hotels and motels.

Mayor Jerome Stocks and council candidate Doug Long said last week that fairness was exactly why voters should support Prop. K.

Hotels, motels and bed-and-breakfasts pay an 8 percent transit occupancy tax as well as a 2 percent sand-replenishment tax. Owners of short-term rentals pay the 8 percent occupancy tax (approved by voters In June) but don't pay the additional 2 percent sand tax.

Long said that needs to change.

"I am hopeful that the citizens are educated enough and recognize that this is a tax not upon themselves," he said. "From someone in a commercial business, if they are going to rent out their house, they should have to pay the same as a hotel does."

Contact staff writer Ruth Marvin Webster at (760) 901-4074 or rwebster@nctimes.com.