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Lawmakers hear sharply divided testimony on allowing local use of lodging tax for tourism-impacted services
Summary
The Oregon House Revenue Committee spent a full afternoon hearing public testimony on House Bill 3,962, which would let local governments spend some local transient lodging tax (TLT) increases on tourism-impacted services including public safety, transportation and wastewater.
The Oregon House Committee on Revenue heard more than 70 public testimonies Thursday on House Bill 3,962, a proposal to loosen 2003 restrictions on how local transient lodging tax (TLT) increases may be spent.
Representative Jules Walters, who introduced the dash-2 amendment, said the bill “is about local control; it gives cities the ability to decide based on their unique circumstances how best to serve both residents and visitors.” Committee members heard competing views from municipal leaders, law enforcement, fire officials, destination marketing organizations and industry associations.
Supporters — including mayors from Bend, Seaside, Lincoln City, Toledo and other coastal and inland communities; county commissioners; chiefs of police and sheriffs — told the committee that tourism has grown…
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