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Budget committee keeps Rock the Locks funding in transient room tax budget while public comment and studies continue
Summary
The City of Umatilla budget committee approved the proposed budget, including a transient room tax (TRT) allocation that would support the Rock the Locks music festival, while public commenters and consultants press for more studies and clearer policy direction before a July council decision.
The Umatilla Budget Committee on April 15 approved the city—s proposed budget that includes a large allocation in the transient room tax (TRT) fund tied to the Rock the Locks music festival, but committee members and members of the public pressed for more analysis and a July policy decision by the city council before committing longer-term funds.
Chair Bruce McLean opened the budget discussion and city staff described why a portion of TRT revenue has been included in the FY2025-26 proposed budget. City staff said the consultants Jensen Strategies recommended carrying a portion of the 2026 festival costs forward in the budget so the city can make deposits and contractual commitments if the festival proceeds; if council later decides not to continue the festival, staff said council can reappropriate those funds by resolution.
Why it matters: Rock the Locks is the single largest discretionary event the city supports and has drawn both strong public support for its economic and community benefits and repeated neighborhood complaints over noise and impacts. Budgeting the TRT amount now preserves the city—s options but leaves a policy choice to the council in July when consultant reports and public input are complete.
What the committee heard and directed
- Public comment: Roxy Dodge urged the committee to fund Rock the Locks, calling it a "cornerstone of local economic vitality" that brings tourists, revenue to downtown businesses and community pride. An adjacent resident, who lives about 200 feet from the main stage, urged the committee to consider relocation of stages or capital mitigation because of persistent noise and potential loss of livability for nearby homeowners. Earl Smith, a project manager representing local school facilities planning, requested the committee consider school capital needs alongside other taxing districts.
- Consultants and studies: City staff said EcoNorthwest (economic impact consultant) is conducting an economic-impact analysis (noted as not-to-exceed $15,000) and will deliver a preliminary draft in May; Jensen Strategies will compile neighborhood meeting input and survey results. Staff gave a timeline: community survey open through April 28; preliminary reports available in May; discussion of results planned in June and a policy vote by council in July.
- Financial context: Staff reminded the committee that previous Rock the Locks years showed net operating losses in earlier years (staff cited prior-year losses around $1.1–$1.2 million in earlier years and a proposed net loss of about $900,000 for 2025), and that TRT and other funds have limits (operating contingency can be at most 15% of a fund under current practice). Staff also noted that if council chooses not to proceed with Rock the Locks after funds are budgeted, council could reallocate or reappropriate those dollars.
Committee action and outcome
The committee voted to approve the transient room tax fund as presented in the proposed budget. The transient room tax fund total in the approved budget was recorded as $3,758,221 (fund-level total as presented to the committee). Committee members who expressed reservations asked that council use the June–July public engagement and consultants' reports when making a final policy decision about whether to continue funding the festival in 2026 and beyond.
Next steps and timeline
- Public survey: open through midnight April 28. Jensen Strategies will compile neighborhood meeting notes and survey results; EcoNorthwest will deliver an economic-impact draft in May.
- Council review: staff told the committee the full council will receive the consultant reports and public input in June and will not take the final policy vote on continuing Rock the Locks until its July meeting, giving council time to consider the findings and any recommended mitigations or alternative event models.
What the transcript shows (selected points)
- City staff: explained the consultants— recommendation to include a portion of 2026 festival costs in the budget to cover deposits and prepayments; if the council later declines the festival, staff said council could reappropriate the funds.
- Public comments: Roxy Dodge (resident), an unnamed resident living 200 feet from the stage, and Earl Smith (project manager) spoke during public comment; comments included both support for the festival—s economic role and direct complaints about noise, public-safety impacts and the need to consider alternatives such as moving stages.
- Consultants: EcoNorthwest contracted (NTE $15,000) to produce an economic-impact analysis; Jensen Strategies compiling public input and producing a separate report; both reports will be used for the council—s July policy decision.
Ending note: the committee—s action preserved the city—s ability to host a major festival while requiring the council to consider complete consultant findings and public input before any multi‑year commitment.
