Tuesday’s newspaper was very interesting because of two articles about potential tax increases. The first would propose a 1 percent overnight lodging tax increase to fund marketing and sales for the Deschutes County Fair and Expo Center. Mentioned in the article was another additional proposed room tax increase of 1.4 percent for marketing tourism and public safety in Bend.

Then there was an article about concern for response times for fire and rescue stating that an additional tax levy would be required. It seems to me any additional room tax should first go to help defray the increased police, fire and rescue costs incurred by increased tourist activity. That way visitors could help pay these expenses like most of us pay in the form of room and sales taxes when we visit other areas.

Bill Calhoun

Bend