Hotel guests in Benton County will soon pay more. The Board of Commissioners voted this week to enact a three percent lodging tax starting July 1.
About half of all Oregon counties impose a lodging tax. Benton County officials estimate the tax will bring in about $600,000 per year. By state law, 70 percent of the revenue has to go towards promoting tourism or tourism-related facilities, such as parks or fairgrounds. The rest of the money will go into the county’s general fund.
The tax will apply to all types of short-term lodging, including hotels, bed and breakfasts, and campgrounds.
It would be in addition to other lodging taxes, such as the 1.8 percent tax charged by the state, and the nine percent lodging tax in the city of Corvallis. The vast majority of paid overnight lodging in Benton County is within Corvallis city limits.
