A group of concerned citizens say no to ‘commissioner slush fund’

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KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - A group of concerned citizens are calling for the defeat of a motel tax increase proposed in measure that appears on ballots that will hit voters mailboxes next week.

The group, Citizens for Responsible Government, is also calling on the Klamath County Commissioners to place a revised motel tax measure on the November ballot.

The current proposal, Ballot Measure 18-120, would increase the county's room tax rate from 8 to 11 percent, and allocate 70 percent of the revenue to tourism promotion. The remaining 30 percent would be used at the discretion of the county commissioners.

“We have two concerns,” said Kate Marquez, chair of the citizens’ group that formed April 18. “First, the commissioners didn't seek any public input on the measure, and they changed the measure at the last minute so that they would get a blank check for a quarter-million dollars every year.”

The measure's original language, as drafted by Discover Klamath, called for 30 percent of revenue to support local museums.

Klamath County Museum Advisory Board Chairman Eric Nelson is also a member of the citizens’ group, as is Todd Kepple, who is taking leave time from his job at the Klamath County Museum to support the effort to defeat the measure.

“We urge voters in Klamath County to vote 'No' on Ballot Measure 18-120, and encourage the commissioners to work with stakeholders to create a new measure we can all support in the November election,” Marquez said.

She added that the working group fully supports increased funding for tourism marketing.

“We appreciate the work Discover Klamath does year in and year out. They could clearly use more money to get the word out about Klamath County,” Marquez said. “We just need to fix the wording first, and then vote again next time around.”

Two previous motel tax measures approved by Klamath County voters, the first in 1978 and another in 2006, clearly defined where the money goes. The current measure, as revised by the commissioners, would be the first time motel taxes could be used in any way that current and future commissioners see fit.

Marquez described that as a "county commissioner slush fund."

The group will conduct a virtual town hall meeting on Facebook at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 22. Marquez will provide an overview of the issues, and field questions from anyone watching the live program. To see the town hall meeting, go to facebook.com/moteltaxproject.