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Morrow County tourism coordinator reports $20 million visitor spending estimate; commissioners question methodology, discuss lodging‑tax committee
Summary
County tourism coordinator reported 2023 direct travel spending for Morrow County at about $20 million and outlined marketing, accessibility grant work and a proposal to explore a transient lodging tax (TLT); one commissioner said the model estimates should be reviewed and asked staff to share the Dean Runyon report.
Morrow County’s tourism coordinator presented a year‑end tourism update and raised the possibility of forming a local transient lodging tax (TLT) program to fund marketing and small local grants.
Perry Welchley, the county’s contracted tourism coordinator, summarized 2023 indicators from the statewide economic analysis produced for Travel Oregon (Dean Runyon & Associates). Welchley said the report’s county‑level estimates put direct travel spending in Morrow County at about $20,000,000 in 2023, supported roughly 260 tourism‑related jobs and accounted for approximately 268,000 visitor nights. He said the county’s exposure in the regional visitor guide is up and outlined marketing work, agritourism/farm‑trail promotion, a $22,700 accessibility grant used for business workshops, and plans for a 2025 regional visitors guide.
Welchley suggested the board consider creating a TLT oversight committee to review options for establishing a lodging tax for tourism promotion and grant‑making. He explained how a local lodging tax would be collected from travelers and used under state rules, and said a committee would be appropriate to research feasibility, set policy and do stakeholder outreach.
At least one commissioner questioned the county‑level spending and overnight‑visitor estimates, noting limited motel capacity and that the study models home‑stay and other forms of lodging. "I take some of their numbers with a grain of salt," a commissioner said, and asked Welchley to share the Dean Runyon report so commissioners could dig into the methodology.
Action and context: Welchley said the Dean Runyon county report would be provided to commissioners; staff also flagged that any lodging tax would need a committee to study legal and distribution rules under Oregon statutes. The discussion was informational; no formal decision to pursue a lodging tax was made.
What’s next: staff will share the underlying Dean Runyon analysis with the board; commissioners may form a study committee if they choose to pursue a TLT option.
