May 21: Tourism, Taxes, and Tradeoffs
Thursday, May 21, 2026 (8:00 AM - 9:30 AM) (PDT)
Description
Tourism plays a central role in Central Oregon's economy and places real demands on public safety, parks, roads, and other city and county services. Recent changes to Oregon’s Transient Lodging Tax law through House Bill 4148 have given cities more flexibility in how tourism dollars can be used, while still maintaining support for destination marketing.
This City Club forum will explore how the Transient Lodging Tax fits within Oregon’s highly constrained tax system, what HB 4148 changed, and how the City of Bend, Visit Bend, and Deschutes County are working through new options and tradeoffs. Panelists will examine tourism’s benefits and impacts, compare the region to peer communities, and discuss the policy choices ahead knowing that visitor spending is bolstering the local economy at a time of extreme uncertainty.
Confirmed Speakers:
- Cyrus Mooney, Business Development Manager, City of Bend (Moderator)
- Megan Perkins, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Bend
- Phil Chang, Commissioner, Deschutes County
- Nate Wyeth, Chief of Staff, Visit Bend
Images
First Presbyterian Church of Bend
230 NE 9th St
Bend, OR 97701 United States
230 NE 9th St
Bend, OR 97701 United States
Thursday, May 21, 2026 (8:00 AM - 9:30 AM)
(PDT)
Doors/coffee open at 7:30 a.m.; program starts at 8:00 a.m.
Registered Guests
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107 See Attendee List
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