|
Oregon has a strong track record of enhancing tourism and creating thousands of jobs that trigger local economic growth while making Oregon a top travel destination. That is why we are supporting Measure 104 – it will ensure tax fairness for businesses and consumers.
Join the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association and protect the entrepreneurial spirit that brings award-winning plates from chefs who use Oregon’s farm fresh Marionberries and hazelnuts, salmon and crab and thousands of handcrafted beers and wines. Unfortunately, this entrepreneurial spirit is under attack. New taxes on beer, coffee, food, and soda have become common amongst politicians in Salem, as they search for new revenue, despite record spending levels. How are politicians gaming the system and getting around the law? Over 20 years ago Oregon voters passed a constitutional amendment requiring a supermajority vote on all revenue-raising legislation. But now, thanks to a creative loophole found by politicians and their lawyers, politicians have changed the rules to avoid the supermajority vote designed to protect taxpayers from increased taxes on food and beverages. This year, politicians used this trick to steal $1 billion from small businesses on a simple-majority vote, eliminating lower tax rates for hardworking, family-owned businesses throughout Oregon. That isn’t right and it needs to be stopped. A “Yes” vote on Measure 104 will close this loophole and put an end to these legislative tricks hurting consumers and businesses. Supporting Measure 104 will help prevent partisan gamesmanship and ensure tax fairness for Oregonians. Join us in protecting the Oregon way and the entrepreneurial spirit that makes Oregon a great place to live, visit, work and play. The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association encourages a "Yes” vote on Measure 104.
0 Comments
The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA) supports Measure 103 because it protects low-income Oregonians and small businesses, including restaurants, from new taxes on the sale or distribution of food and beverages, regardless of where such items are purchased.
Measure 103 specifically defines “groceries” as “any raw or processed food or beverage intended for human consumption except alcoholic beverages, marijuana products, and tobacco products.” This broad definition includes food and beverages purchased from restaurants. Taxes on food would have a disproportionate effect on Oregonians who can least afford it, including low-income households and seniors on fixed incomes. While many states other than Oregon have sales taxes, many exempt food and beverages from those taxes for this very reason. Measure 103 protects all Oregonians from regressive and harmful taxes imposed by state and local governments on the sale of food and beverages. Oregon currently does not have any statewide sales tax but many local governments tax certain items. Measure 103 would ensure that if new state or local sales taxes are passed in Oregon, those taxes will not apply to the sale of food and beverages. Measure 103 protects customers and businesses from the negative affects new taxes on food and beverages would have. A meal at a restaurant or from take-out is a regular and increasing part of many Oregonians’ busy schedules. ORLA supports Measure 103 because it will ensure that such meals remain as affordable as possible without unnecessary and burdensome taxation. Join us in voting Yes on Measure 103.  Hospitality workers make our thriving tourism industry possible. For every dollar we invest in tourism promotion, $237 comes back to Oregon in visitor spending—in addition to $11 in local/state tax revenues for important community priorities—according to third party research by Longwoods International. However, restaurant and lodging employees from Ashland to Portland, Coos Bay to Bend, are finding it more difficult to find housing close to their place of work.
Due to rising housing costs, these hard-working Oregonians are finding it more difficult to secure housing options that meet their needs. The result is long distance and congestion-filled commutes that mean less time spent with families and more money spent on transportation. Hard-working Oregonians should be able to afford to live near their job, but a lack of affordable housing options across the state is making that more difficult. Across Oregon, there is an opportunity to lift the ban to public-private housing development partnerships that assist in solving the challenges we face. Support for Measure 102 will give local governments the opportunity to create comprehensive workforce housing proposals and present them for consideration to local voters. We believe communities deserve the right to vote on housing proposals that, if planned appropriately, can stimulate local economic growth while adding to the quality of life for hospitality workers and their families. Measure 102 is an important, bipartisan measure that will give communities across Oregon greater flexibility to create the housing they need. By allowing local governments to partner with non-profit and private housing providers, any bond dollars they raise specifically for affordable housing will be able to go further, creating more affordable homes. This measure is a small tweak that will have a big impact in the lives of Oregonians. Please join us in voting Yes for Measure 102. Measure 105 would repeal the state law, Oregon Revised Statute 181A.820, which forbids state agencies, including law enforcement, from using state resources or personnel to detect or apprehend persons whose only violation of the law is that of federal immigration law.
Measure 105 would allow any law enforcement agency to use agency funds, equipment, and personnel to detect and apprehend people whose only violation of the law is a violation of federal immigration law. ORLA’s position is that comprehensive immigration reform must include all aspects of immigration issues—border security, worker supply and employee verification—which means that Congress is the only political body which can actually solve the immigration problem. State and local governments only make a solution more complex by trying to pass their own laws. ORLA is opposed to random, individual pieces of immigration reform and supports Congress working together on a national level to enact comprehensive reform. For this reason, ORLA says No to Measure 105. Four members of Oregon’s foodservice and lodging industry have been selected for the statewide 2018 Hospitality Industry Awards as announced by Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA). Dave Thomason (Thomason Hospitality Group LLC, Grants Pass) was named Restaurateur of the Year; Doug and Becky Neuman (Neuman Hotel Group, Ashland) were named Lodging Operators of the Year; Kaarina Vera (Seaside Lodging LLC, Seaside) was named Employee of the Year, and Karnopp Peterson LLP (Bend) was named Allied Partner of the Year.
The recipients of these awards will be recognized among their peers and over 300 delegates of ORLA’s Convention during the Hospitality Industry Awards Dinner on September 30, 2018, at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Portland – Washington Square, in Tigard, Oregon. “Oregon’s hospitality industry is teeming with individuals who contribute significantly to the health of the trade,” says Jason Brandt, president and CEO of the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association. “These winners represent not only some of our industry’s most dedicated leaders and advocates, but also the exemplary service that sets the high standard for the entire industry to achieve.” Restaurateur of the Year: At 16, Dave Thomason started in the restaurant industry working as a busboy for the Carl’s Jr. chain in Anaheim, CA, and now has his own company overseeing 44 operations with a total workforce of over 600 employees. He has also been a very strong advocate of the industry having served 18 years as an ORLA Board Member and is a Past President of the Association. Through Dave’s leadership, experience and passion for hospitality, Thomason Hospitality Group has realized tremendous growth in recent years with no signs of slowing down. Taprock Northwest Grill opened for business in May 2009 and has been the centerpiece of Thomason Hospitality Group’s portfolio which also includes holdings throughout the state of Oregon for Elmer’s, Pita Pits, Human Beans, and Purple Parrots. Success isn’t all about growth and profits however. Dave believes their employees are their best asset and the greatest advantage over their competitors. He maintains that treating employees with respect values their individuality and empowers them to provide great service. Lodging Operators of the Year: In less than two decades Doug and Becky Neuman have transformed Southern Oregon’s hospitality scene. It all started as a real estate investment when they purchased the dilapidated Ashland Springs Hotel in late 1998 and “brought it back to its glory.” Their passion for Oregon led them to expand investments, and now Neuman Hotel Group’s portfolio includes four hotels, three restaurants, tow spas and soon a Victorian home. The Neuman’s impact on Southern Oregon goes beyond economic development and job creation, they filled a need in the community by revitalizing properties that celebrate what Oregon has to offer. More importantly, they have created an incredibly supportive work environment for close to 350 employees, investing in training and benefits that attract and retain a staff that love what they do. Employee of the Year: From front desk agent to manager, Kaarina Vera has proven that hard work, along with insight and being a quick learner can reward you with greater opportunities. When Seaside Lodging acquired ownership of the property where Kaarina was working the front desk less than a decade ago, they quickly saw her potential and transferred her to sales. Shortly after, she was promoted to Sales Manager for the Inn at Seaside – a strategic move for the Inn, as she helped double the sales. Kaarina’s exceptional performance directly contributed to the growth of the company which now includes four hotels. In her current position of Sales, Marketing and Revenue Manager for Seaside Lodging LLC, Kaarina continues to shine as one of the most “honest, ethical, sincere and efficient” staff members the company is proud to employ. Allied Partner of the Year: Karnopp Petersen, a law firm in Bend, Oregon, operates with a simple philosophy, “do your best work and give back.” For Karnopp Petersen, it’s not just about resolving disputes or winning litigation; they want to be a “value creator” for their clients by designing legal strategies that truly fit their clients’ needs, thereby giving them the best chance at achieving their goals. ORLA saw the value in this approach firsthand with a recent lawsuit regarding local lodging taxes. “The lodging industry in Oregon was in need of a law firm that could prevail in our pursuit of lodging tax protections. Karnopp Petersen has and continues to be one of ORLA’s most crucial partners in establishing the appropriate ways lodging taxes should be spent in Oregon,” said Jason Brandt, President & CEO, Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association. “We’re more than pleased with the service they’re able to provide.” For more information on the Hospitality Industry Awards, visit OregonRLA.org/Awards or ORLA’s Convention, visit OregonRLA.org/Convention or call 800.462.0619. For press inquiries regarding the Hospitality Industry Awards, please contact Lori Little, director of communications, at 503.682.4422. It has long been held that federally recognized Native American tribes are considered sovereign nations that hold the right to self-government within the boundaries of their tribal lands. This includes the right to engage in economic activity on reservation lands, specifically gambling.
While tribal casinos are largely thought of as competition only to state lotteries, the truth is they enjoy a competitive advantage in comparison to other hospitality industry businesses as well. Oregon has some of the highest labor costs in the nation, and the rising costs associated with employee benefits is creating an escalating challenge for Oregon’s restaurant and lodging properties. Local economic impact of additional casino location proposals is and will continue to be of serious concern to ORLA members. Our position since April of 2008 has been as follows: Changes to current federal and state gaming policies should not be made for the purpose of allowing off-reservation casinos, tribal or private. For more information on ORLA’s policy relating to casinos, please contact Greg Astley.  Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association’s Statewide Publication Caters to Oregon’s Broader Restaurant and Lodging Industry
The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA) unveiled a new quarterly publication under its own name, Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association Magazine, with an editorial focus that serves both restaurant and lodging industry members. The inaugural issue, which included the annual Buyer’s Guide directory, landed in mailboxes across the state in early July. This publication was born from combining the association’s former Main Ingredient and Lodging News magazines, two award-winning publications that have served Oregon’s hospitality industry for many years. In addition to a fresh new look and design, ORLA’s new magazine will continue to bring relevant, timely information as well as curated content for both the lodging and restaurant industry. With a distribution of over 10,000, and an estimated reach of over 30,000, the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association Magazine hopes to serve as Oregon hospitality industry’s primary source of information. ORLA’s goal with the new publication is to create a viable, sustainable publication that continues to provide a valuable benefit to members while staying on top of reader’s interests. A digital edition is available at http://bit.ly/ORLAmag, or contact ORLA’s Director of Communications, Lori Little, to subscribe at LLittle@OregonRLA.org. For a media kit, visit OregonRLA.org. Best Practices and Tools for Recruiting and Retaining Employees Here’s the good news: year over year, 2016 to 2017, the hospitality industry ranked second for job growth in Oregon at a rate of 3.9 percent. The challenge: how do we fill the 210,000 jobs we have? With Oregon unemployment at a historic low of 4.1 percent, everyone is lamenting about the difficulty in finding employees. March’s 2018 Oregon Economic and Revenue Forecast notes that “…the tight labor market is resulting in faster wage gains here in Oregon than in the typical state.” Business owners expressed concern about recent legislation to increase minimum wage, but many have told me they are now offering above minimum wage in competitive attempts to attract workers. Retention Trouble Nationwide, an almost unbelievable and very disheartening and expensive fact - 72.5 percent of people left their foodservice or hospitality positions in 2017. While we struggle with the high cost of hiring associates, the conversation is also turning to the high cost of losing employees. Training time, costly product and customer service mistakes, and overtime paid to cover unfilled positions are direct hits to the bottom line. I was fascinated to find a Turnover Cost Calculator with a shocking example. For a business that had 150 employees, and a turnover rate of ‘only’ 11 percent, a reduction in turnover of 20 percent would save an estimated $313,000 annually in training and opportunity costs. Check it out and use this template to estimate your own potential savings: bit.ly/TurnoverCostCalculate. Emerging Best Practices Addressing the Employment Challenge While some managers interpret that the current generation lacks a focus on and commitment to employment and loyalty, others are finding creative and successful ways to help fill positions and reduce turnover by addressing the priorities of today’s employee. I think Jack Altman, CEO of Lattice, summed it up well when he wrote “Younger workers… prioritize things like personal growth and career opportunity over income and job security. Giving your employees authentic opportunities for growth is something you have to build into the fabric of your company.” You can read more at bit.ly/2sHIfee. Interpretation. We, as an industry, can find ROI in nurturing employees’ values to attract and retain them by offering pathways and assistance to help them meet their goals. One way to do this is via education and training. “Train people well enough so they can leave, treat people well enough so they don’t want to.” - Richard Branson
There is growing proof that this approach is working, and that the investment pays off. CNBC does a nice round-up at http://cnb.cx/2JFBt2i where they note;
More Tools on the Horizon! ORLA’s Education Foundation partnered with the Oregon Coast Visitors Association and the owners of the Overleaf Lodge & Spa, Kristin and Drew Roslund, this year to secure grants from Travel Oregon and the Siletz Tribal Charitable Contribution Fund. Funds awarded were used to pilot a workforce development program in Waldport. The target was recruitment and retention via a program that offered free skills-based certifications. From this effort we developed an encouraging relationship with enthusiastic partners at WorkSource Oregon in Lincoln County. WorkSource Oregon is a network of public and private partners who work together to “effectively respond to workforce challenges through high-quality services to individuals and business, resulting in job attainment, retention, and advancement.” They are the agencies most in touch with untapped populations who could help fill those 210,000 jobs and provide critical support for both the employee and employer in that effort. Our next step is to expand our partnerships and phase-in a more comprehensive program. We believe the model has potential to replicate throughout the state, and our hope would be to leverage available state and federal training funds and Oregon Employment Department staff expertise to help serve industry’s workforce needs. An unexpected benefit was learning about the resources WorkSource offers to our employees, previously unknown to most of us! These include funding and staff support for employees such as uniform purchase, housing and transportation vouchers, and skills and mental health counseling. We are encouraged by the potential to offer hospitality business partners more active assistance with our industry’s workforce challenge and our organizations will be providing regular updates and resources. | Wendy Popkin, ORLAEF Wendy Popkin is the Executive Director for ORLA’s Education Foundation (ORLAEF), a nonprofit foundation dedicated to supporting the educational and training needs of the hospitality industry. Wendy is a 32-year career veteran who describes herself as “fanatically enthusiastic about helping others enjoy the same type of fabulous career opportunities I have enjoyed in the hospitality industry.” June 27, 2018 - A measure strengthening Oregon’s required supermajority in order to increase state revenue appears that it is headed to the ballot in November. The measure clarifies that changes in tax rates, exemptions, or elimination of credits or deductions require at least three-fifths support in each chamber of the legislature. A coalition of small business groups turned in over 174,000 signatures supporting the measure by the end of June. The coalition believes that tax and fee increases should receive support from at least three-fifths of the legislature as voters intended when they passed Ballot Measure 63 in 1998. Do you think raising taxes on your family and homegrown Oregon companies should be as easy to approve as declaring marionberry pie the official state pie? We didn’t think so. The bar should be higher for the legislature to approve taking more of your hard-earned paycheck. Tax increases should always be the last option—never the first. We have a solution. We need you to visit EndEasyTaxHikes.com/orla right now to add your name to a citizen initiative petition to prevent the legislature from using gimmicks and loopholes to raise taxes easily. At EndEasyTaxHikes.com/orla, you can download and sign a petition—it will only take you three minutes. The website includes easy instructions to help you get signatures from your family members and colleagues as well. With your help, ORLA and thousands of other Oregonians will place Initiative Petition 31 on the ballot this November to end easy tax hikes. Background:
Ten years ago Oregonians smartly passed a constitutional amendment requiring any tax increase be approved by a supermajority of both the State House and State Senate. Now, since our state legislature can't get a supermajority to vote for a tax increase, they are creating and increasing "assessments" and "fees" that are really tax increases - because they only need a simple majority to implement and raise fees and assessments. We need you to visit EndEasyTaxHikes.com/ORLA and add your name to a citizen initiative petition to prevent the legislature from using gimmicks and loopholes to raise taxes easily. It's time to put a stop to this… a tax is a tax. Please complete form for consideration for the 2019 ORLA Convention or Northwest Food Show. We are no longer accepting speaker proposals for 2018 ORLA Convention.
Oregon's Minimum Wage Continues to Rise
The 7-year minimum wage escalation plan for Oregon went into effect with the first increases on July 1, 2016. The plan includes 3 regions with different escalation methodologies over the course of those 7 years. The wage scale is as follows: STANDARD: Includes portions of Multnomah / Clackamas / Washington Counties not within the Portland Urban Growth Boundary as well as Marion, Clatsop, Polk, Josephine, Jackson, Deschutes, Lincoln, Benton, Linn, Lane, Tillamook, Yamhill, Columbia, Hood River, and Wasco Counties. • July 1, 2016: $9.75 • July 1, 2017: $10.25 • July 1, 2018: $10.75 • July 1, 2019: $11.25 • July 1, 2020: $12.00 • July 1, 2021: $12.75 • July 1, 2022: $13.50 PORTLAND METRO: The Portland Metro rate applies to employers located within the urban growth boundary (UGB) of the metropolitan service district. This includes portions of Multnomah / Clackamas / Washington Counties and cities including Portland, Gresham, Troutdale, Fairview, Hillsboro, Beaverton, Tigard, Tualatin, Sherwood, Forest Grove, Wilsonville, Lake Oswego, West Linn, Oregon City, Gladstone, Happy Valley, Milwaukie, and Damascus. Use Metro's Urban Growth Boundary lookup tool to determine if your address is within the UGB. • July 1, 2016: $9.75 • July 1, 2017: $11.25 • July 1, 2018: $12.00 • July 1, 2019: $12.50 • July 1, 2020: $13.25 • July 1, 2021: $14.00 • July 1, 2022: $14.75 The Urban Growth Boundary is expanded through the process outlined in Title 14 of the Urban Growth Management Functional Plan. The process involves a needs assessment every 6 years, and as-needed review based on local jurisdiction input on a more frequent basis. For questions about the process of UGB expansions, contact Tim O’Brien at Metro. NONURBAN: Includes Baker, Coos, Crook, Curry, Douglas, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Jefferson, Klamath, Lake, Malheur, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wheeler counties. • July 1, 2016: $9.50 • July 1, 2017: $10.00 • July 1, 2018: $10.50 • July 1, 2019: $11.00 • July 1, 2020: $11.50 • July 1, 2021: $12.00 • July 1, 2022: $12.50 ORLA will continue to educate Oregon’s lawmakers on the value of tip credit as a solution to bring stability to the industry and solve wage inequality issues. Deschutes County Circuit Court Case No. 17CV41968
On September 26, 2017, the Oregon Restaurant and Lodging Association, BHG Bend, LLC, and Wall Street Suites, LLC (together, the “Plaintiffs”) filed suit against the City of Bend alleging that the City’s recently enacted Ordinance NS-2291 violated ORS 320.350(3) by impermissibly lowering the amount of room tax revenue expended to fund tourism promotion. Through their Complaint, the Plaintiffs sought (1) a declaration from the Court that NS-2291 violated ORS 320.350(3), and (2) an injunction preventing the City from enforcing NS-2291 and ordering the City to expend room tax revenue in accordance with ORS 320.350(3). The City answered, denying that NS-2291 violated ORS 320.350(3). The City’s sole affirmative defense was that the Plaintiffs each lacked standing to challenge the validity of NS-2291. After limited discovery was concluded, Plaintiffs and Defendants filed cross-motions for summary judgment. On May 8, 2018, the parties’ motions were heard by the Hon. Judge Beth Bagley. Plaintiffs were represented by Josh Newton. The City was represented by Ian Leitheiser. On May 23, 2018, Judge Bagley read the Court’s decision from the bench. The Court found that each of the Plaintiffs had standing to challenge NS-2291. The Court then found that by enacting NS-2291, the City violated ORS 320.350(3) by lowering the room tax revenue expended on tourism promotion below the rate agreed upon by the City prior to the enactment of ORS 320.350(3). Karnopp Petersen is in the process of preparing an order and judgment to be entered in the action. Once the final judgment is entered, the City may appeal the Court’s decision. The City will have 30 days from the date the final judgment is entered to file its Notice of Appeal. ORLA thanks the firm Karnopp Petersen LLP for their excellent representation in this case. Related News: Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association Takes Legal Action Against the City of Bend to Protect Lodging Tax Dollars Intended for Tourism Promotion Update May 23, 2018 - A Deschutes County judge ruled that the City of Bend broke the law by redirecting restricted lodging tax dollars to street maintenance. As a result of the court hearing, $350,000 that had been reallocated to road repairs will be directed back to tourism promotion. ORLA thanks the firm Karnopp Petersen LLP for their excellent representation in this case. On May 8, 2018, the Judge heard arguments from the city’s attorney and an attorney representing the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association and two local hotels that sued the city in September. The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA) filed a lawsuit September 26, 2017, against the City of Bend for diverting the City’s room tax revenues away from tourism promotion and reducing the allocation for tourism promotion below what is required by law. ORLA is challenging the validity and implementation of a recent Bend City Ordinance which amends the percentage of room tax revenue the City spends on the promotion of tourism and improperly diverts restricted room tax revenues to road maintenance. “Cities must follow the restrictions in place for disbursement of the lodging tax revenues they collect,” said ORLA President & CEO Jason Brandt. “Unfortunately, Ordinance NS-2291 results in Bend being out of compliance with state law. The vast majority of tourism revenues in Bend can already be spent on general fund purposes so we hope our lawsuit results in acknowledgment from the courts that this recent act is in violation of Oregon law and must be undone.” Bend City Ordinance NS-2291 violates state law (Oregon Revised Statue 320.350) in one or more of the following ways: a) 9% of the City’s 10.4% city room tax rate has a set of restrictions for appropriate use of those funds. Within the 9% city room tax rate, the City is statutorily required to spend 30 percent on tourism promotion and tourism related facilities. b) The remaining 1.4% city room tax rate is subject to a statutorily required 70% investment in tourism promotion and tourism related facilities. “Lodging operators should be recognized as financial partners of local governments,” said Brandt. “As tourism becomes more successful, so does the tax revenue provided to local governments to invest in the projects important to local residents.” A report from Longwoods International 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. ORLA is engaged on a state and local level, helping local municipalities realize that shifts in tourism promotion investments can do more harm than good. Brandt argues there is a direct correlation between tourism promotion and a community’s own tax revenue. “Tourism promotion dollars are crucial to keeping Oregon’s visitor destinations top of mind. Local communities stand to lose significant tax dollars for their general funds if tourists choose to travel elsewhere.” In 2003, the Oregon State Legislature passed HB 2267, mandating 70% of new or increased local lodging taxes be directed to tourism promotion or tourism related facilities. At that time, the City made the commitment to fund tourism promotion with 30% of the initial 9% tax rate in Bend. In 2013, the City’s residents approved Measure 9-94, which increased the City’s room tax rate from 9% to 10.4%. That 1.4% increase in tax rate is subject to the restrictions established in HB 2267. This past May the City passed an ordinance, in violation of the law, changing the allocation of tourism dollars. “The City claims their new allocation of lodging tax dollars still follows state law. This is incorrect,” said Brandt. “There is an error in the total investment they are required to make in tourism promotions and/or facilities.” The hospitality industry sees transportation investments as a crucial contributor to Oregon’s continued economic success. ORLA looks forward to working with Bend and other communities to help identify appropriate revenue streams to fund transportation investments including the unrestricted portion of lodging taxes. For more information, contact ORLA President & CEO, Jason Brandt, at 971.224.1501. ### The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association represents approximately 2,500 members, and advocates for over 9,900 foodservice locations and 2,200 lodging establishments in Oregon. The foodservice and lodging industry is responsible for 173,700 jobs bringing in over $10.8 billion in annual sales and generates over 54% of the annual tourism dollars spent in Oregon.
Related News: Update: Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler’s office recently announced a plan to increase the Portland business tax from 2.2% to 2.6% to pay for an additional 58 officers in the police budget. That number was reduced to 49 new officers, however the City Council agreed to hire 55 officers by the 2019-20 budget year. The tax was something of a surprise to us but does not in any way diminish our commitment to increasing the number of police officers in Portland. The Portland Business Alliance (PBA) is supporting the increase on business taxes and agreed to step up on this tax increase in order to help address Portland’s top issue of homelessness, which impacts businesses and livability throughout the city. The additional revenue will be targeted toward measurable outcomes. Like the Portland Business Alliance, ORLA is supportive of the focused efforts on homelessness, providing community-based policing and targeting measurable outcomes. Visitors to and residents of Portland should feel safe to walk the streets, day or night, and should believe Portland to be a place welcoming their presence and patronage. Support for Portland Policy Bureau's Budget Request As the City of Portland continues to be a preferred destination for many visitors regionally, nationally and internationally, it’s important they feel safe while staying in our hotels, eating at our restaurants and enjoying all we have to offer in the hospitality industry. With the 2018-2019 budget season well underway, the Mayor’s Office is encouraging constituents with public safety concerns to give testimony in support of Portland Police Bureau’s budget request for additional officers. The Portland Police Bureau is struggling to fulfill its mission to serve and protect due to a lack of funding and resources. As both the population of Portland and the number of visitors grows, they are being asked to do more with less. There are the fewer officers in the bureau than there were a decade ago, despite a 10 percent increase in Portland’s population. Consequently, the bureau continues to face challenges in patrol staffing, which has led to declining response times. In the last five years, total 911 call volume has increased by over 22%. These calls include a 97% increase in stolen vehicle calls, 64% increase in unwanted persons calls and a 32% increase in disorder calls. Mayor Wheeler is proposing adding 93 additional sworn positions and 9 additional non-sworn positions at a cost of $12.3 million and a one-time funding request of $8.8 million which includes $2.6 million for technology replacement and $3.8 million for facilities enhancements. This budget request would increase the number of officer positions by approximately 10 percent--on par with Portland’s growth. Key Points to the Proposal The Police Bureau's budget requests for additional ongoing resources will advance the bureau’s mission and goals to provide 21st Century Policing services, to support organizational excellence and inclusion, and to rebuild their units to deliver community policing. Priorities include:
Read more on ORLA's engagement in Portland's homeless issues. Share Your Testimony We want to show the Mayor we support his priorities to increase public safety and police accountability to enhance livability. Submit your testimony online or attend a public hearing. If you send an email, please Cc: Astley@OregonRLA.org on your message to the City Budget Office so we can share our industry's collective feedback. Attend a Hearing:
Budget Committee Hearing May 10, 2018, 6:00pm - 8:30pm Council Chambers, Portland City Hall 1221 SW 4th Ave., Portland, OR 97204 Council Action to Approve City Budget May 16, 2018, 2:00pm Council Chambers, Portland City Hall 1221 SW 4th Ave., Portland, OR 97204 Related News: Hospitality Business Leaders Act on Portland’s Homeless Issues Menu Labeling Regulations Effective May 7, 2018
The final rules for menu labeling apply to restaurants and similar retail food establishments if they are part of a chain of 20 or more locations, doing business under the same name, offering for sale substantially the same menu items and offering for sale restaurant-type foods. Read the latest update on guidance for the rule: FDA Finalizes Guidance to Help Food Establishments Meet Menu Labeling Requirements. The FDA has stated their intention to educate restaurants and foodservice establishments during this first year of implementation without issuing penalties. In May 2017, based on comments received, FDA is extending the compliance date for menu labeling requirements from May 5, 2017 to May 7, 2018. This extension allowed for further consideration of what opportunities there may be to reduce costs and enhance the flexibility of these requirements beyond those reflected in the final rule. For more information see, the Federal Register Notice Announcing the May 7, 2018 Compliance Date. See also National Restaurant Association's issue paper on Menu Labeling.
Metro, the agency that manages systems for handling and transporting solid waste, wants to transform how the Portland area handles food waste in an effort to convert our food scraps into renewable energy instead of burying them in a landfill.
In 2016, the Metro Council directed staff to investigate ways to do that. In fall 2017, Metro sought public comment on an initial policy proposal to keep more food scraps from restaurants, grocery stores, and other food service businesses out of landfills and put to better use creating energy, compost or other valuable products. The regional government is in the process of seeking a private company to build a plant that breaks down food waste and turns it into biogas, electricity, or compost. ORLA is engaged in these discussions, anticipating that many restaurant owners will oppose the new mandates that would produce operational challenges. Metro has developed a guide for businesses to reduce food waste, focusing on prevention, donation, and composting strategies. Learn more about Metro's campaign at FoodWasteStopsWithMe.org. Read more on Metro's website Read more in the Portland Tribune The Oregon Restaurant and Lodging Association (ORLA) invites all Oregonians to join it in celebrating National Park Week, which runs through Sunday, April 29.
The week was designed to celebrate the important role played by national parks in our state and country. Oregon’s national park sites offer some of the best-in-class experiences for all visitors. From the stunning beauty of Crater Lake, the John Day Fossil Beds, and Oregon Caves, to the cultural significance of Lewis and Clark National Historical Park and Old Chief Joseph’s Grave Site, national parks in Oregon entertain, educate, and enrich visitors from around the world. Those visitors are important to the state and Oregon restaurant and lodging establishments. In 2016, more than 1 million people visited national park sites in Oregon. The National Park Service (NPS) estimates that those visitors spent $97.5 million in communities with proximity to national parks. That spending supported 1,640 jobs and added a cumulative benefit of $138.4 million to the state economy – money that helps ORLA members and our overall economy. Our organization supports more than 9,900 foodservice locations and 2,200 lodging establishments in Oregon. The foodservice and lodging industry is responsible for 173,700 jobs, and brings in more than $10.8 billion in annual sales and generates more than 54 percent of the annual tourism dollars spent in Oregon. We know how important national park visitors are to those numbers, which is why we are taking the opportunity during National Park Week to encourage Congress to give the parks service the funds it needs to address critical infrastructure repairs. Nationwide, the National Park Service (NPS)has maintenance needs totaling $11.6 billion, largely due to aging infrastructure and inconsistent federal funding. These needs include impassable trails, deteriorating historic buildings, crumbling roads, and degraded water and electrical systems. The estimated price tag to address repairs within park sites in Oregon is more than $105 million and growing. This backlog impedes NPS’ ability to keep its sites safe and accessible for visitors. It is in the best interest of Oregon’s tourism economy to keep our tourist draws open for business, and our parks are no exception. If national parks are closed and/or if the visitor experience is subpar, repeat visitors are less likely. The good news is that our Oregon congressional delegation understands that protecting national parks is important to our economy as well as to our culture and history. Oregon Reps. Kurt Schrader and Suzanne Bonamici and U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley all are supporting bills designed to create dedicated funds for NPS to draw down its deferred maintenance backlog. Oregon's congressional delegation’s commitment to restore our parks will preserve these national treasures for generations to come, create jobs, and protect local and state economies that depend on parks for their livelihood. We thank them for their leadership. Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association’s Tradeshow Offers Attendees Exclusive Experience with a New Virtual Sales Tool The Northwest Food Show, April 22-23 at the Portland Expo Center, will premiere the exclusive Virtual Reality Dome by Visiting Media, demonstrating how some Oregon businesses are already using immersive content to promote their businesses. This incredible interactive technology will help restaurants reach a customer base that is driven by new experiences. This is the first time tradeshow attendees will experience immersive content like 360˚ video, aerial photography, virtual reality, and 3D-modeling via the TrueTour® platform in a life-sized, portable virtual reality dome. Visiting Media developed TrueTour®, a revolutionary visual sales and marketing tool, to help businesses connect with their guests and potential customers on a whole new level. “Virtual reality can be a stunningly effective storyteller, adding an immersive and emotional component that showcases what’s unique to Oregon,” said Jason Brandt, President & CEO of Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA). “We are excited to partner with Visiting Media to provide this innovative solution to our hospitality members who are looking for more effective ways to reach their customers.” Visiting Media’s VR Dome is a 200° spherical projection dome with a built-in spherical 4K projector covering every inch of the dome’s interior with vivid lifelike imagery. TrueTour® projects 360° photography, 360° videography, 3D modeling and other virtual and augmented reality content, controlled and navigated with arm and hand gestures by the dome’s occupants. This creates a thrilling game-like immersive experience into any business presented upon the screen. The Northwest Food Show, presented by the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association, is a two-day tradeshow held April 22-23, 2018, at the Portland Expo Center. Celebrity chef Rick Bayless, winner of Bravo’s Top Chef Masters, headlines the event with a chef demonstration. The Show will also have James Beard Award-winning chefs Andy Ricker from Pok Pok and Greg and Gabrielle Quiñónez Denton, the owners of Ox, on the Chef’s Stage on Monday. More information on the Show, including the schedule of cooking demonstrations, Tasting Pavilion, and educational sessions, can be found at www.nwfoodshow.com. This event is only accessible to restaurant and foodservice industry-related businesses and is not open to the public. Media passes for the show are available upon request; contact Trey Carscadon at 503.201.4669. ### About Visiting Media
Visiting Media is a technology company dedicated to delivering the world’s best visual marketing solutions to inspire, describe, transmit and promote our members’ businesses. Building upon its mastery of innovative, immersive and virtual reality technologies, the essence of the brand is communicated through hundreds of professional and enterprise members who depend upon Visiting Media to receive tailored support, quality content production, and a substantial advantage as they redefine what is possible in the virtual and actual marketplace. VisitingMedia.com About ORLA The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association serves to protect and promote Oregon’s hospitality industry, representing approximately 2,500 members, and advocating for over 9,900 foodservice locations and 2,200 lodging establishments across the state. The foodservice and lodging industry is responsible for 173,700 jobs bringing in over $10.8 billion in annual sales and generates over 54% of the annual tourism dollars spent in Oregon. SB 1528B negates state income tax relief for Oregon’s small businesses The following business groups today expressed their disappointment in Gov. Kate Brown’s signing of Senate Bill 1528, which increases taxes on small business by more than $1 billion over six years. Statements follow. Associated Oregon Loggers Oregon-Columbia Chapter of Associated General Contractors Oregon Farm Bureau Federation Oregonians for Food & Shelter Oregon Power Sports Association Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association Oregon Seed Council Oregon Small Woodlands Association Oregon State Association of Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Oregon Vehicle Dealers Association National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors-Oregon NFIB/Oregon Northwest Auto Trades Association Jason Brandt, President & CEO for the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association: “As Oregonians running restaurants and lodging establishments continue to assess their tax liability under the new federal reforms, one thing is painfully clear – there will be no state income tax relief for Oregon’s small businesses. Oregon had an opportunity to replicate and amplify the successes of federal tax reform by connecting to the new 20 percent deduction on pass-through business income – which would have happened automatically, without passing a single bill this year. This is a very unwelcome and disappointing development. Raising revenue should require a supermajority vote of Oregon’s legislature. ORLA will be actively involved in campaign activity this summer and fall to give Oregonians the opportunity to vote for an end to easy tax hikes.” Anthony Smith, Oregon state director for the National Federation of Independent Business: “Lower taxes mean more opportunities for entrepreneurs to make investments in their businesses, their communities, and their employees. NFIB remains committed to preserving every possible benefit from federal tax reform because the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has led to a significant surge in Small Business Optimism across the nation, reaching some of the highest levels on record. Unfortunately, Oregon has chosen a different path. Today’s signing of SB 1528 marks a significant step backwards for our state’s entrepreneurs. Cathi Webb, Executive Director for the Northwest Auto Trades Association: “It’s sad to see Oregon moving in the wrong direction. We were once a leader in recognizing the importance of providing tax relief to our homegrown, main street businesses. Now, Congress and the White House have raised the bar with an inclusive policy that lowers taxes for nearly every S-corp, partnership, LLC, and sole proprietorship. We could have done the same. We didn’t.” Jonathan Sandau, State Government Affairs for the Oregon Farm Bureau Federation: “The state’s decision to decouple from the federal tax code jeopardizes our local farmers’ economic competitiveness by blocking the full benefits that could have been realized from federal tax reform. By keeping those dollars on the farm, Oregon’s small farming and ranching families had an opportunity to engage on a level playing field to provide healthy, responsibly grown food to our local markets.” Jim Geisinger, Executive Vice President for Associated Oregon Loggers: “The state asks small businesses to pay more and more of the state’s obligations while making it more and more difficult to make a buck to tax! They can’t have it both ways!” Roger Beyer, Executive Director for the Oregon Seed Council: “For Oregon’s family owned farms this is a real blow. Unlike many other businesses, farms cannot pick up and leave the state if it is unprofitable to continue doing business. The state has increased the cost of producing seed significantly in recent years and today, the Governor showed us where her loyalties lie. This was a missed opportunity for Oregon.” Background According to the non-partisan Legislative Revenue Office, SB 1528B raises $244.4 million in 2017-19, $376.7 million in 2019-21, & $427.4 million in 2021-23, a total of more than $1 billion in additional revenue that was not part of the most recent state revenue forecast. The U.S. Small Business Administration reports that Oregon has over 350,000 small businesses, accounting for 99.4 percent of all businesses in the state and employing more than half of the state’s private sector workforce. The median income for individuals self-employed at their own incorporated businesses was $44,147 in 2015. For individuals self-employed at their own unincorporated firms, this figure was $20,672, including all income sources. ### About the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association
The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association serves to protect and promote Oregon’s hospitality industry, representing approximately 2,500 members, and advocating for over 9,900 foodservice locations and 2,200 lodging establishments across the state. The foodservice and lodging industry is responsible for 173,700 jobs bringing in over $10.8 billion in annual sales and generates over 54% of the annual tourism dollars spent in Oregon. About the National Federation of Independent Business Celebrating its 75th anniversary, the National Federation of Independent Business has taken the message from Main Street to the halls of Congress and all 50 state legislatures since 1943. NFIB annually surveys its members on state and federal issues vital to their survival as America's economic engine and biggest creator of jobs. NFIB’s educational mission is to remind policymakers that small businesses are not smaller versions of bigger businesses; they have very different challenges and priorities. If you have questions or concerns, contact Jason Brandt, President and CEO, Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association, 503.682.4422, JBrandt@OregonRLA.org. |
Archives
September 2018
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed