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Newberg council opposes county transient lodging tax overlay on city properties
Summary
The Newberg City Council voted to tell county commissioners it is not in favor of a countywide transient lodging tax (TLT) overlay applied to properties inside Newberg, citing lack of local survey data and concern that the city would not benefit directly from the revenue; the motion passed with two abstentions.
The Newberg City Council voted Dec. 1 to inform Yamhill County commissioners that it does not support a county transient lodging tax (TLT) overlay on properties within the city.
Staff summarized a county proposal and recommended the council not support an overlay unless the county provides clearer data on hoteliers’ views and a defined plan for how revenue would be used. "At face value, I saw this as somewhat of a strange proposition," City Manager Will said, noting many short-term rentals in unincorporated areas are not permitted and the overlay could shift burden to municipal hoteliers.
Council debate centered on whether input from Newberg hoteliers and data about revenue distribution warranted a formal position. Some councilors said the issue felt premature and called for more outreach; others said Newberg should clearly oppose any overlay imposed on city properties. Councilor Robin (liaison to the tourism agency) reported she had spoken with at least one large local hotel operator, who expressed concern about increasing taxes.
Motion and vote: Mayor Rosacker moved that the council express to county commissioners that it is not in favor of any TLT overlay on Newberg properties; the motion was seconded. The city recorder called the vote: the motion passed with a majority 'aye' and two abstentions (Councilor 4 and Councilor 22 cited insufficient data as their reason for abstaining).
Next steps: Staff said the council wished to communicate the city’s position to county commissioners ahead of further county deliberations. Councilors who abstained asked staff to collect local hotelier feedback and additional objective data before taking a firm stance in the future.
