Oregon Public Broadcasting

In November, Deschutes County voters will get to decide whether they want to impose a higher tax on tourists.

Wednesday, the County Commission voted to put a higher hotel tax on the ballot - as central Oregon correspondent Ethan Lindsey reports.

Two commissioners voted to put the tax increase on the county's ballot - and if approved by voters, it would raise an estimated $900,000 per year.

Anti-tax advocates say the tax is a backdoor revenue generator used to close a $3 million road maintenance shortfall caused by the loss of federal timber payments.

Commissioner Tammy Melton voted against the measure, saying the county has not clearly specified how it will use the funds.

Tammy Melton: “I don't believe it's a backdoor tax, because people have the right to have their voice heard by voting. But I as a taxpayer want to know where that money is going to be going, and to say that we're going tax you now and figure that out later, I want to be sensitive to the tough economic times right now.”

An additional two percent hotel occupancy tax would mean hotels outside the major cities in Deschutes County would be forced to charge the same tax rate as the hotels in Bend and Redmond.