A bill that would help fund the 2021 World Track and Field Championships in Eugene narrowly passed the Oregon House Friday. It would keep the state’s transient lodging tax at its current rate of 1.8 percent. Proceeds would go to Travel Oregon and are meant to help with the event.
Democratic Representative Alissa Keny-Guyer spoke in favor of the bill’s passage.
“I do think that tourism is an incredibly important economic driver. I know for, in particular, some of our rural areas, I know how important the Oregon ’21 Track and Field Championships , the largest international championship in the entire world taking place for the first time in the United States here in Oregon in August next year.”
The bill passed amid concerns about a recent state audit which showed the CEO of Travel Oregon has the 2nd highest pay of any state director, at $382,000. The state has committed $40 million toward the World Track & Field Championships. So far, only half that amount has been raised.