Document text
http:// --> Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Local Issues Obituaries Weather Archive Revels Etcetera Backpage Hot Topics Most Viewed Forum Photo Galleries Video Readers Polls O-Zone Online Games Movie Preview Special Sections Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad Featured Galleries: March 5, 2007 Hotel tax center of economic discussion By Vickie Aldous Ashland Daily Tidings The Ashland City Council could adopt goals to promote economic development using hotel tax revenue. A discussion on possibly raising the hotel tax is on the agenda as well. The council meets at 7 p.m. on Tuesday in the Ashland Civic Center Council Chambers, 1175 E. Main St. The 7 percent hotel tax on hotels, motels, bed and breakfast inns and hostels will bring in an estimated $1.5 million this fiscal year. Under state law, 70 percent of any hotel tax increase must be spent to promote tourism. Raising Ashland's hotel tax to 8 percent would generate another $151,000 for tourism and $65,000 for other programs. The extra money for tourism could be spent to draw tourists to Ashland during the slower fall, winter and spring seasons or to develop a convention center, according to a city staff memo to the City Council. The additional money that does not have to go toward tourism could be used to help pay Ashland Fiber Network debt, fund the Ashland Public Library or make up for revenue shortfalls in the Community Development Department, the memo states. Of cities with a hotel tax, Ashland is near the bottom on the rate it charges. Portland has the highest tax, at 11.5 percent, while Eugene and Springfield each charge 4.5 percent. The City Council could add criteria for how it spends hotel tax money on economic and cultural development. Economic development could include working to increase the variety of employers, encouraging wages at or above the median wage, encouraging the use of local resources, working with Southern Oregon University especially on international commerce and discouraging businesses from moving here that need water or emit air pollution or toxic waste. Cultural development could include working with SOU on cultural programs and supporting groups that increase the variety of cultural opportunities, diversify the economy and showcase local talent. In other business Tuesday night, the council is scheduled to: "¢ discuss the Capital Improvement Plan Program and long-range financing; "¢ discuss changing the distribution of the Youth Activities Levy to bring it into compliance with a recent court ruling regarding property taxes; "¢ reviewing proposed draft City Charter language; "¢ hear resident Philip Lang's safety concerns about the Oregon Shakespeare Festival's brick courtyard; "¢ discuss establishing an emergency shelter policy that could include using Pioneer Hall or other available city-owned buildings during extreme weather; "¢ consider requiring that non-certified stoves be removed from homes when they are sold or transferred; "¢ consider banning open burning in the city except to reduce wildfire fuels and noxious weeds. Burning of yard clippings or other materials would be prohibited. For the complete agenda and for more information on agenda items, visit www.ashland.or.us . Click on Council Business in the left column. Staff writer Vickie Aldous can be reached at 479-8199 or [email protected]. Current Comments: When will the Council stand up and request that Philip Lang stop waisting staff's time (legal, planning, administration, etc.) and now Council's time with this nonsense. He obviously has a Napolean complex, needs attention and needs to be heard. Can someone get him a booster seat? Bliss - Ashland - March 5th, 4:01 PM Funny how Lang con complain that rules are not applied fairly, yet he continues his unfounded vendetta against OSF. What did they ever do to you, Lang? Why don't you just SHUT UP!!! David - Ashland - March 5th, 5:00 PM "Of cities with a hotel tax, Ashland is near the bottom on the rate it charges. Portland has the highest tax, at 11.5 percent, while Eugene and Springfield each charge 4.5 percent." If Ashland charges 7%, wouldnt that put them squarely in the middle. It surely wouldnt be the bottom unless the tax rate was 5% instead. Michael - Ashland, OR - March 5th, 5:50 PM Phil, You are a very sad man. I'd recommend some counseling to overcome whatever happened to you. Taking it out on the rest of us isn't really the best way. pragmatic - ashland, oregon - March 5th, 6:20 PM I agree, that Ashland would be well served by a public comment limitation that I understand other cities enjoy, in that you only get a few minutes and you only are allowed to speak to Council during public forum quarterly or something. Any one is still free to submit letters. The broadcast of Council and Planning meetings on RVTV has turned them into a circus of publicity hounds like Lang and Swales. enough - ashland, OR - March 6th, 7:01 AM Leave a Comment: Advertisement: Advertisement: Paid Advertising: Debt Help Inkjet Printers Payday Loans Free Ringtones Debt Consolidation Security Systems Debt Relief New Hampshire Primary Advertisement: Copyright © 2007 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. All Rights Reserved. Del.icio.us