I’m a longtime Bend resident and business owner who cares deeply about my community and the economic stability of the city. That’s why I’m voting yes on Measure 9-94.

Measure 9-94 is not a tax on Bend residents. It’s a slight increase in the tax tourists pay to stay in Bend hotels. Currently, the rate is 9 percent; Measure 9-94 would raise that rate to 10.4 percent. The change would bring it more in line with room tax rates in areas like Portland (14.5 percent), Seattle (15.8 percent), South Lake Tahoe (15 percent) and Boise (13 percent).

Though a 1.4 percent room tax hike amounts to $1.40 for someone paying $100 a night for a hotel room, it adds up to a lot more for vital Bend services.

With 2.2 million visitors coming to Bend annually, that’s an additional $200,000 a year earmarked for police and firefighters, $150,000 a year for arts and culture and $300,000 a year for tourism promotion aimed at funneling more tourist dollars into Bend’s economy.

Tourist dollars are vital to many Bend businesses, and mine is no exception. Having tourists play a bigger role in supporting Bend services just makes good economic sense.

Please join me in voting yes on 9-94.

Rebecca Charlton

Bend