Business Association Letter to the Revenue Committees

​The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association is one of 22 business associations who signed the following letter submitted to the revenue committees on March 21, 2019.

As representatives of Oregon’s leading private-sector employers, we recognize that the Legislature intends to pass significant new taxes this year, most of which will fall on Oregon’s businesses, small and large.

As we consider tax proposals, our organizations will be guided by the following principles:

1. Gross receipt taxes are bad for consumers. The pyramiding characteristics of a GRT distort the true tax rate, unfairly impacting some products and industries more than others. With a GRT, many products can be taxed multiple times before they reach the final consumer, resulting in higher prices that will be borne by allOregonians on such critical items as food.
2. Short-term and long-term stable funding for schools is critical, but cost control must be part of the plan. We support targeted investments to improve education outcomes, but new revenue is only part of the equation. Tax increases must be accompanied by cost control, starting with PERS, which has been draining money away from classrooms for years. Schools will not be helped unless the ever-increasing PERS burden is addressed. Before raising taxes on any Oregonians, the Legislature must act to control costs.
3. Tax reform requires a comprehensive review for business and employees. We will participate in conversations about tax reform that take a broad view of Oregon’s tax system rather than focusing singularly on one new tax concept. And we ask for recognition that any major tax reform will require a years-long transition, with thoughtful planning and execution for all parties.
4. New taxes should be fairly assessed. We will consider tax options that are broad based, recognize the needs of low-margin businesses and maintain a level playing field when it comes to competitive relationships.
5. Reforms should have a positive effect on Oregon’s economy. We will insist that the impact to Oregon’s economy, and particularly the ability of private-sector businesses to grow and retain jobs, be considered carefully, not only in terms of a new tax proposal, but also in light of the cumulative costs of all of the legislation expected to be passed in 2019. As the state economists warn of an economic slowdown in 2020, the potentially negative impact of major tax increases must be weighed.
6. We will oppose a gross receipts tax. As representatives of the business community, we are making a good-faith effort to understand the tax proposals on the table during this legislative session, so that we can participate in conversations effectively and ensure the impact to Oregon’s employers are understood. We request that the Legislature keep our principles in mind as they develop a revenue package and that they include us, as representatives of the private-sector employer community, in those discussions.

Nine Schools Competed in Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association Education Foundation’s Statewide Competition Showcasing the Hospitality Industry’s Future Chefs

The challenge for the student chefs was to prepare a three-course gourmet meal with only two butane burners in under an hour. Willamette High School pulled this off with excellence, taking first in the culinary competition at the ORLAEF ProStart Invitational, sponsored by Sysco Portland. South Salem High School placed first in the management competition, developing a concept for a new restaurant and presenting it to judges from the industry and post-secondary education.
 
Willamette High School’s winning menu included ricotta mascarpone quail egg ravioli, pan seared wild Sockeye salmon with a fish velouté sauce and rosemary Parmigiano-Reggiano polenta, and mascarpone vanilla bean panna cotta.

Both first place teams will head to the 2019 National ProStart Invitational® May 8-10, 2019, in Washington, D.C. on sponsorship from ORLAEF. These Oregon champions also receive a share of over $547,500 in scholarships from local and national culinary schools to help further their careers in the restaurant and foodservice industry. 

“It is with great pleasure Sysco Portland is once again the leading sponsor of the ORLAEF ProStart program,” said Bobbie McDonald, Vice President of Merchandising & Marketing at Sysco Portland. “These young culinarians from our state are building skills that are foundational to their careers in the hospitality industry. This year we are extremely excited to announce the additional support of honoring two students with a scholarship to help guide them on their culinary journey.”
  
Final results for the culinary competition:

• First Place: Willamette High School
• Second Place: McNary High School
• Third Place: North Salem High School
• Fourth Place: Seaside High School
• Fifth Place: McMinnville High School

 
Final results for the management competition:

• First Place: South Salem High School
• Second Place: Century High School
• Third Place: Willamette High School

 
Additional awards presented at the event:

• Oregon ProStart Student of the Year – Shane Wilder, Willamette High School
• Oregon ProStart Mentor of the Year – Irina Bakun, McNary High School
• Oregon ProStart Teacher of the Year – Chef Laura Hofer, South Salem High School

A huge thank you to all the judges for this year's Oregon ProStart Invitational! They participate because they believe in these students, and want to celebrate their successes. 

2019 VOLUNTEERS

Eric Aebi, Ethos Hospitality
Dori Brattain, Bread & Salt Catering
Rachel Leo, The Leo Company
Angela Miles, Travel Salem
Pat Morrill, SAIF
Paul Paz, Waiters World
Tamara Roberts, Martin North
Pat Snyder, Industry Representative
Holly Stirnkorb, Metro
Anne Walton, Zena Learning Center
Students from Cascade Culinary Institute

2019 JUDGES
​
Hans Afshar, CEC, Bentleys Grill
Chris Allen, CEC, Food Services of America
Matthew Anderson, Ecolab
Matt Bennett, Sybaris Bistro
Ryan Bleibtrey, Sysco Portland
Barry Bowers , Pro Chefs Oregon
Kara Campuzano, Salem Convention Center
Michael Chamberlain-Torres, Hospitality by Torres, LLC
Soraida Cross, Bentleys Grill
Glenn Dettwiler, CEC, Le Mieux Foods
Andrew Farr, University Club of Portland
James Nowlan Fowler, Devil's Food Catering
Natalie Frajola, Pro Chefs Oregon
Treva Gambs, Gamberetti's
Seth Gruschow, Togather Restaurant Consultants
Sergio Gutierrez , Ecolab
Ken Henson, Pelican Brewing Company/Meridian Restaurant + Bar/Stimulus Bakery
Erik Jarvey, Ecolab
David Jenks, Sysco Portland
Kevin Jordan, Restaurant Professional
Josh Kolb, Ecolab
Sam La Duca, CHE, COCC - Cascade Culinary Institute
Douglas Lang, Oregon Health and Sciences University
Karen Malody, Culinary Options Consultancy
Tim McDonald, Food Services of America
Steve Moore, Philadelphia's Steaks & Hoagies
Ken Narcavage, Oregon Culinary Institute
Dennis Prime, Sysco Portland
Rex Robertson, Little Lois Cafe
Janel Rupp, CFSP, Performance Reps NW
Cory Schreiber, CEC, Sysco Portland
Thomas Semke, Newport Meat Pacific NW
Jay Skowron, Hospitality Defender, LLC
Samuel T. Spencer, CEC, American Culinary Federation
Mark Swenson, Shepherd's Grain
Jordan Snyder, Gecko Hospitality
David Trask, COCC- Cascade Culinary Institute
Randy Torres, CEC, Oregon Coast Culinary Institute
Brian von Eggers, CEC, American Culinary Federation
​Chad Warneke, Sysco Portland
Laura Williams, CEC, Oregon Coast Culinary Institute
Justin Wilson, Newport Meat Pacific NW
Eric Wynkoop, Rouxbe
Anjali Wynkoop , Oregon Culinary Institute

Lottery App: The Oregon Lottery has released a new smartphone app providing players with a way to scan tickets to see if they are winners, finding the closest Lottery retailer, and giving players information about Oregon Lottery games and promotions. In addition to the game-related features, the Lottery has purposefully included responsible gaming aspects in the mobile app. 

Sports Betting: Back in May 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states could offer sports betting, overturning an earlier decision by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals prohibiting such activity. Oregon was one of four states outside of Nevada that were grandfathered in to allow sports betting under the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, which was deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court last May.

With that decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, the Oregon Lottery has decided to bring sports betting to the state ahead of the 2019 NFL season. To start, players will be able to place bets via a mobile app and will only be able to pick the winners of one sporting event or another, either outright or against the spread. Additional betting options are planned to be rolled out at a later stage. 

The app will also accept bets on other professional sports but gambling on collegiate sports will not be available via the app. The Oregon Lottery’s future plans include the authorization of in-game wagering at betting kiosks located at bars and restaurants around the state. 

​Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA) announced the 2019 state winners of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation’s (NRAEF) Restaurant Neighbor and Faces of Diversity Awards. Three restaurants, Block 15 Brewing Company (Corvallis), Bentley’s Grill (Salem), and Mo’s Restaurants were named state winners for the Restaurant Neighbor Award. Luis Perez, franchise owner/operator of Elmer’s Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner in Corvallis, was named Oregon’s Faces of Diversity winner.

“The involvement and dedication these restaurants have shown in support of local philanthropy is commendable and exemplifies the spirit of our industry and our state,” said Jason Brandt, ORLA President & CEO. “It’s our honor to recognize these restaurants along with one restaurateur who has achieved success through perseverance and passion.”

Nine out of 10 restaurants give back to their communities through charitable activities. Restaurants also play an important role in providing a ladder of opportunity for millions of Americans to achieve the American Dream.

Each year, the NRAEF recognizes restaurants around the country for outstanding community service, diversity and lifetime achievement. These prestigious national awards honor restaurants that go above and beyond in supporting their community and inspiring others with their stories of success. 

All state winners were forwarded to NRAEF in consideration for national awards to be announced mid-March. Three national Restaurant Neighbor Award winners will receive a $10,000 award to help support their favorite charity or community project. National winners of the Faces of Diversity Award will have a $2,500 scholarship awarded in their name to an aspiring student from their state. In addition to the award, the national winners will be flown to Washington, DC to receive the award at a special banquet on March 27, 2019.

Oregon’s award recipients will be formally recognized among their peers at ORLA’s Hospitality Industry Awards presentation during the annual Convention, this year in Seaside, September 16-17, 2019. 

For more information on Oregon's Restaurant Neighbor Awards, visit OregonRLA.org/restaurant-awards. 

The Oregon Legislature is considering HB 3023 which will create statewide standards for rideshare companies, drivers, and vehicles in Oregon. ORLA supports this bill as it sets standards for driver background checks, vehicle safety, and insurance - important factors in providing affordable and safe transportation options.

• Read ORLA's letter to the House Committee on Business and Labor and House Leadership.
  
  

This is just one of hundreds of bills ORLA is engaged and/or monitoring. You can track our progress on priority bills throughout the legislative session on ORLA's website at OregonRLA.org/billtracking.