Vote NO on Higher Taxes in Tillamook County!

Vote NO on Measure 29-183!

Tillamook County wants to raise taxes again!

The County wants to impose a 40% increase in the transient lodging tax (TLT), raising it from 10% to 14%.

When you factor in the state lodging tax, the overall rate will be 15.5% - almost as high as Portland’s!

Reasons to Say NO!
to Tillamook County’s Latest Tax Increase:

#1: Government needs to learn to live within its means, just like taxpayers do every day.

Too many local governments used one-time money they received from the Federal government during COVID to add staff, pay for new projects or fund ongoing operations. Local governments knew the money wouldn’t be there forever but instead of budgeting that money wisely, many of them are now coming back to taxpayers and asking for even more taxes to pay for these projects. With increased costs of food, gas, rent and other everyday items, residents have had to cut back on expenses and government needs to do the same.

#2: 70% of this new tax will go to tourism related expenses and the tourism industry is OPPOSED to this increase.

By law, any increase in a local transient lodging tax must be split with 70% of the money going to the tourism industry for facilities, marketing or promotion and 30% going to the local city or county as unrestricted funds. Despite this, the tourism industry is OPPOSED to this increase! The County needs to find another way to solve their budget problem without targeting a vital industry on the Oregon coast.

#3: The County has the ability to redirect current funds, there are no restrictions on the 30%.

That unrestricted 30% is available to the County to spend however they choose. If they want to spend that money on public safety, emergency communications, roads or literally anything else, they are free to do so by law.

#4: A 40% increase is TOO MUCH!

Can you imagine your water bill going up by 40%? Or your electric bill? Or your property taxes? No matter what bill you’re talking about, a 40% increase is JUST TOO MUCH. It’s unreasonable, it’s unfair and it targets a critical industry on the Oregon coast providing jobs, paying taxes and helping boost local economic development for everyone.

On May 20, 2025, vote NO on the TLT tax increase.