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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 22, 2018)
5A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2018 Tax: State collected more than $145 million in revenue as of 2015 Continued from Page 1A Opponents say lifting restrictions on the tax money ultimately defeats the pur- pose, which is to promote tourism that generates revenue for cities in the long term. In Cannon Beach, Greg Swedenborg, the president of the chamber’s board, said the chamber is open to the idea but needs more specifics. “I think it addresses an area that Can- non Beach has a need for. But it’s not just buying the school. You have to consider operating costs before you can make a decision,” Swedenborg said. “Whether it’s used for the arts or as a conference center, sure, we could use that. But will it benefit year-round business? Is it doing what the intent of the law is, which is making it a place that regenerates that transient lodging tax?” ‘Loved to death’ A state law passed in 2003 imposed a 1 percent lodging tax increase, with 70 percent of the revenue collected restricted to tourism promotion and tourism-related facilities. As a fundraising mechanism, the law has done its job. The Oregon Department of Revenue collected more than $145 mil- lion in revenue as of 2015. Cannon Beach in 2016 alone received $3.8 million in lodging tax revenue. But Wendy Johnson, an intergovern- mental relations associate with the League of Oregon Cities, said some cities are having a hard time keeping up with the demand that tourism promotion creates. “A lot of communities are spending a lot on marketing and are getting loved to death,” Johnson said. “Cities rely on tour- ism for their economy and they want to be Photos by Colin Murphey/The Daily Astorian LEFT: A mural created by students adorns the walls of the former Cannon Beach Elementary School. RIGHT: The former elementary school in Cannon Beach sits unused. BELOW: Tourists flock to Cannon Beach in the summer, which adds lodging tax dollars to the local economy. a welcoming place. But they also have a strapped budget, and they want more flex- ibility to use those revenues. This law is one size fits all, and every city has differ- ent expenditures and needs.” A survey done by the league asked 46 cities how each would prefer to spend lodging tax revenue. Johnson said the top responses were city beautification, public safety and transportation improvements — all issues related to a booming tourism industry. “We just disagree with what tour- ism-related means,” Johnson said. “You don’t have a good event if you have a traf- fic jam or not enough cops to keep it safe. They won’t come back.” In the last legislative session, John- son said she pushed to broaden what can be considered a tourism facility, which is defined as a conference center, convention center, visitor information center or other property with the substantial purpose of supporting tourism. “Right now the law says it has to be real property, and has to have a use of 10 years. So maybe you can’t cover flowers, but maybe you could fix a light post,” she said. “We think it should help with beau- tification issues, but the definition is too narrow. We think it should include any- thing that makes the experience better for the tourist.” The proposal didn’t make it out of committee in Salem. Johnson said she hopes to continue working with the lodg- ing industry to find a solution. “The growth in Oregon has been great,” she said. “But at what point do you have a destination that’s no longer a desti- nation because it’s been loved to death?” Return on investment Jason Brandt, CEO of the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association, argues a city already can use 30 percent of the lodging tax on general city needs, and that public infrastructure isn’t a reliable met- ric to help define tourism-related facilities. Redirecting the tax money to capital projects or maintenance takes away from the “big picture” of what it takes to sup- port Oregon’s second-largest industry, Brandt said. “The reality is, whenever we don’t put that dollar out for promotion, and instead for a local investment for a capi- tal improvement, in a way we are shooting ourselves in a foot,” Brandt said. “We are using a long-term investment strategy for a short-term challenge a community may be facing.” That investment, Brandt said, is sup- ported by a report from Longwoods International, which shows for every $1 invested in tourism promotion, $237 is generated in economic impact and $11 in tax revenue to the benefit of Oregon residents. The concept of “how much tourism is too much tourism” looks different for each community and should be solved on a local level, Brandt said. But investing in tourism over time is a greater benefit to city’s general fund, he said. “I can’t emphasize how strong the tour- ism economy can be if we focus on tour- ism promotion and less on maintenance backlogs,” he said. In Cannon Beach, since the Cham- ber of Commerce has been the recipient of 70 percent of the lodging tax dollars, the amount of taxes paid to the city has increased by double digits almost every quarter. “We can’t claim it all,” Swedenborg said. “Good weather, good economy goes into growth, as well. But before the con- tract the city would see maybe 4 percent or 6 percent growth. When we started you are seeing around 16 percent or 10 percent increases (in the lodging tax revenue). We think we have something to do with that.” Sea lions: Wild winter steelhead run reached a low of around 500 fish last year Continued from Page 1A One sea lion swam the 230 miles in less than four days — a rate of about 3 miles an hour. Wright said that sup- ports the state’s argument that lethal removal will be necessary to protect the dwindling wild winter steel- head run, which reached a low of around 500 fish last year. “It would be great if we could just take them to the coast and they could stay there, but that’s not what we’ve found,” Wright said. “I wish it were that simple.” The states of Oregon T HURSDAY E VENING (2) (-) (-) (6) (-) (8) (9) (10) (12) (13) (-) (20) (-) (29) (30) (31) (32) (34) (35) (36) (38) (39) (43) (44) (45) (46) (47) (48) (49) (50) (51) (52) (53) (54) (56) (57) (58) (61) (63) (64) (65) (162) L KATU KOMO KING KOIN KIRO KGW KRCW KOPB KPTV KPDX KCPQ TBS KZJO ESPN ESPN2 NICK DISN FAM FMC LIFE ROOT FS1 SPIKE COM HIST A&E TLC DISC NGEO TNT AMC USA FOOD HGTV FX CNN FNC CNBC BRAV TCM SYFY RFD (2) (4) (5) (-) (7) (-) (3) (10) (12) (-) (13) (20) (22) (29) (30) (31) (32) (34) (35) (36) (38) (39) (43) (44) (45) (46) (47) (48) (49) (50) (51) (52) (53) (54) (56) (57) (58) (61) (63) (64) (65) (162) 6 PM trap last week and was eutha- nized on Thursday. According to the Depart- ment of Fish and Wildlife, other sea lions with a doc- umented record of killing salmon and steelhead near SCHEDULE THE DAILY ASTORIAN A and Washington have been lethally removing sea lions from below Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River since 2008. One of the sea lions on the lethal removal list turned up in the Willamette Falls Bonneville Dam may also be killed if they are captured in the Willamette Falls trap. A decision on additional lethal removals at Willamette Falls isn’t expected until the end of this year. Evening listings THURSDAY F EBRUARY 22 A - Charter Astoria/ Seaside - L - Charter Long Beach 6:30 7 PM 7:30 8 PM 8:30 9 PM 9:30 10 PM 10:30 11 PM 11:30 Jeopardy! (N) Wheel Fortune (N) The Bachelor Winter The 26 singles from around the world look for love. (SF) (N) KATU News at 6 (N) The Bachelor "World Tells All" (N) KATU News (N) (:35) Jimmy Kimmel KOMO 4 News (N) Wheel Fortune (N) Jeopardy! (N) The Bachelor Winter The 26 singles from around the world look for love. (SF) (N) The Bachelor "World Tells All" (N) KOMO 4 News (N) (:35) Jimmy Kimmel (5:00) PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics (:35) PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics KING 5 News (:35) 2018Olympics KOIN Local 6 (N) Evening News (N) Extra Ent. Tonight Big Bang Theory Young Sheldon Big Bang Theory Mom S.W.A.T. "Contamination" KOIN 6 News (N) (:35) Colbert KIRO 7 News (N) Evening News (N) KIRO 7 News (N) Ent. Tonight Big Bang Theory Young Sheldon Big Bang Theory Mom S.W.A.T. "Contamination" KIRO News (N) (:35) Colbert (5:00) PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics (:35) PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics KGW News (N) (:35) 2018Olympics Modern Family Modern Family The Goldbergs The Goldbergs Super. "Various and Sundry Villains" Arrow "We Fall" News at 10 (N) Friends Two and a Half Two and a Half 1/2 Curious Traveler Business (N) PBS NewsHour (N) Art Beat (N) Oregon Guide (N) Midsomer M. (:50) Midsomer Murders "The Glitch" (:35) Miss Marple "At Bertram's Hotel" Miss Marple 2/2 6 O'Clock News (N) Family Feud Family Feud Gotham "Queen Takes Knight" 9-1-1 "Heartbreaker" 10 O'Clock News (N) News (N) Page Six TV Mike & Molly Mike & Molly Big Bang Theory Big Bang Theory FOX 12's News (N) 9 O'Clock News (N) Family Guy American Dad! The Game The Game Modern Family Modern Family Big Bang Theory Big Bang Theory Gotham "Queen Takes Knight" 9-1-1 "Heartbreaker" Q13 News at 10 (N) Q13 News (N) The Simpsons Family Guy Family Guy Seinfeld Seinfeld Pt. 1 of 2 Seinfeld Pt. 2 of 2 Seinfeld Big Bang Theory Big Bang Theory Big Bang Theory Big Bang Theory Conan Friends Friends Mom Modern Family Mom Modern Family Q13 News at 9 (N) Big Bang Theory Big Bang Theory Two and a Half Two and a Half 1/2 NCAA Basketball UCLA at Utah (L) SportsCenter (N) SportsCenter With Scott Van Pelt (N) SportsCenter (N) SportsCenter (N) NCAA Basketball Gonzaga at San Diego (L) College Basketball Boxing Golden Boy Joseph Diaz vs. Victor Terrazas (L) Nación ESPN NFL Live The Nut Job (2014, Family) Katherine Heigl, Brendan Fraser, Will Arnett. Full House Full House Friends Friends Pt. 1 of 2 Henry Danger Henry Danger Hunter Street (N) Knight Squad Jessie Jessie Bunk'd Bunk'd Andi Mack Stuck in Middle Bizaardvark Raven's Home Gravity Falls Gravity Falls Andi Mack Stuck in Middle The Wedding Planner (2001, Romance) Matthew McConaughey, Bridgette Wilson, Jennifer Lopez. Just Go With It (2011, Comedy) Jennifer Aniston, Brooklyn Decker, Adam Sandler. The 700 Club Movie (:40) Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014, Sci-Fi) Jason Clarke, Andy Serkis, Gary Oldman. (:20) FXM Presents Unbroken (2014, Biography) Finn Wittrock, Jai Courtney, Jack O'Connell. What Happens in Vegas (‘08) Ashton Kutcher, Rob Corddry, Cameron Diaz. Grey's Anatomy "Shock to the System" Project Runway (:55) ProjectR (N) Project Runway (N) Runway "A Kick in the Astro" (N) Ship Shape TV Snow Motion (N) Fight Sports MMA Fight: Kickboxing In Depth (N) Spotlight (N) Focused Journal Charlie Moore Destination (N) NCAA Basketball Arizona at Oregon State (L) Fox College Hoops NCAA Basketball Arizona State at Oregon (L) Fox College Hoops TMZ Sports (N) Skip and Shannon Friends Friends Friends Friends Friends Friends Friends Lip Sync Battle Lip Sync Battle (N) Happy Gilmore (‘96) Adam Sandler. (:15) The Office (:50) South Park "I'm a Little Bit Country" (:25) South Park South Park South Park Tosh.0 Tosh.0 Tosh.0 Tosh.0 The Daily Show (N) The Opposition (N) Swamp People "Cajun Cartel" Swamp People "Bruce's Dilemma" Swamp: Blood "Hunting Houdini" (N) Swamp People "Hell Rains Down" (N) (:05) Swamp "Monster in the Dark" (:05) Swamp People "Savage Pursuit" The First 48 "Stray Shot" The First 48 "1000 Cuts/ Draw" The First 48 "Dangerous Company" 60 Days In: Watch Along (N) 60 Days In (N) (:05) The First 48 Wedding "Mama Said Knock You Out" My 600-lb Life "Milla's Story" 600 Life: Supersized "Lisa's Story" (N) To Be Announced Dr. Pimple Popper "This is Zit" (N) 600 Life: Supersized "Lisa's Story" Moonshiners "Bootleg or Bust" Moonshiners "Bros Before Hooch" (N) KillingField "Murder Isle: The Arrest" (N) Moonshiners "High and Dry" Moonshiners "American Spirits" Running Wild "James Marsden" Running Wild "Shaquille O'Neal" Life Below Zero "Hounds of the Arctic" Life Below 0 "Land of Ice and Fire" (N) Running Wild "President Obama" Life Below Zero "Land of Ice and Fire" (5:00) NBA Basketball Washington vs Cleveland (L) NBA Basketball Los Angeles Clippers at Golden State Warriors Site: The Oracle -- Oakland, Calif. (L) Inside the NBA NBA Basketball Was./Cle. Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2005, Action) Angelina Jolie, Vince Vaughn, Brad Pitt. Date Night (2010, Comedy) Steve Carell, Tina Fey. (5:00) True Lies (‘94) Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tom Arnold, Jamie Lee Curtis. Chicago P.D. "Stepping Stone" Chicago P.D. "Wrong Side of the Bars" Chicago P.D. "Chin Check" Chicago "Now Is Always Temporary" Chicago P.D. "Thirty Balloons" Modern Family Modern Family Beat Bobby Flay Beat Bobby Flay Chopped "Whiskey and Wings" Chopped "Raw Deal" Chopped "Something Dumpling" Beat Flay (N) Beat Bobby Flay Beat Bobby Flay Beat Bobby Flay Flip or Flop Flip or Flop Flip or Flop Flip or Flop Flip or Flop Flip or Flop Flip or Flop (N) Flip or Flop House Hunters (N) House Hunters (N) House Hunters House Hunters (5:00) Man of Steel (‘13, Action) Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Henry Cavill. The Martian (2015, Adventure) Jessica Chastain, Kate Mara, Matt Damon. The Martian (‘15, Adv) Matt Damon. Anderson Cooper 360 CNN Tonight With Don Lemon CNN Tonight With Don Lemon Anderson Cooper 360 Anderson Cooper 360 CNN Tonight With Don Lemon Hannity The Ingraham Angle Fox News @ Night Tucker Carlson Tonight Hannity The Ingraham Angle Shark Tank Shark Tank Profit "Showdown at Standard Burger" The Profit "Rayjus" The Profit "The Soup Market" Paid Program Top Chef "Bronco Brouhaha" Top Chef "Red Rum and Then Some" Top Chef "Cooking High" Top Chef "Nut Allergy" (N) The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills WatchWhat (N) Housewives Atl. Sergeant York (1941, War) Walter Brennan, Joan Leslie, Gary Cooper. (5:00) Goodbye, Mr. Chips (:15) Marty (1955, Romance) Joe Mantell, Betsy Blair, Ernest Borgnine. Movie Jeepers Creepers 2 (2003, Horror) Jonathan Breck, Nicki Aycox, Ray Wise. The Mechanic (2011, Action) Ben Foster, A. Edward Sutherland, Jason Statham. The Magicians "Poached Eggs" (4:55) Paul (2011, Comedy) Nick Frost. SF Machinery (N) Small Town (N) Rural America "TKI Crop Vitality" (N) Steve Lantvit Rural Eve. News Market Journal GA Farm Monitor SF Machinery Small Town Time Life Library
