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Commissioners schedule work session after lengthy transit/lodging-tax talks with Baker City and tourism stakeholders
Summary
Commissioners and city and tourism stakeholders agreed to a March 19 work session to resolve Baker City’s proposed split of transient lodging tax responsibilities, contract transitions and budget allocations ahead of the July 1 fiscal year change.
Discussion on March 12 focused on Baker City’s decision to assume direct control of some tourism-promotion responsibilities previously managed through the county’s transient lodging tax (TLT) structure and on how to transition contracts and budgets by July 1.
County staff and commissioners said the city voted to approve its own IGA and intends to pick up some contracts. County staff noted a number of operational questions remain: how to apportion the current fund balance, the effective cutoff date for county-funded contracts, and whether the county should fund the city for the remainder of incumbent contracts through June 30. Participants agreed that a short, focused work session is needed and set the date for March 19 after the regular session. The board asked county finance staff to provide detailed financial statements showing TLT collections, distributions and remaining balances, and asked the city to provide its signed IGA and confirmation of what contracts it will take over.
Speakers at the meeting included Baker City staff and representatives of local tourism partners. Baker County Unlimited and the visitor center reported daily visitor counts and reiterated that the interpretive center and Hell’s Canyon scenic corridor draw the most visitors; tourism partners urged continued county support for countywide visitor services that guide travelers into outlying communities.
Commissioners discussed options including: (1) allowing the city to assume Baker City–specific contracts while the county retains countywide marketing and distribution rules; (2) partially funding a short bridge to cover city-managed contract obligations through June 30; and (3) revising the county TLT ordinance to reflect any statutory changes under consideration at the state level. The board requested staff to bring the current TLT ordinance, the draft revisions that were worked last year, and the county's financial statements for the proposed work session.
Ending: The board scheduled a public work session for March 19 beginning after the regular session to include finance, Tourism and Lodging Tax (TLT) representatives, Economic Development Corporation members and contract holders to finalize the transition plan.
