A proposed bill in the Oregon Legislative Assembly would extend the ways in which local transient tax dollars can be used by cities and counties. The bill, which is opposed by destination management organizations, attempts to strike a balance between meeting the needs of the tourism industry while responding to the impact that tourists have on communities.
Increasing flexibility for the use of the taxes gathered from facilities such as hotels and short-term rentals could give local governments more money for services heavily impacted by tourists, such as law enforcement. HB 3556 would apply to new or increased transient lodging taxes, and extend the uses of those funds to include public safety and certain costs related to community…
