Oregon

Readers respond: Don’t sap Oregon economic development funds

Published

2 months ago

December 11, 2025

Readers respond: Don’t sap Oregon economic development funds

Gov. Tina Kotek’s commitment to boosting prosperity through economic development is encouraging, and I hope her efforts are successful, (“Oregon’s governor unveiled a ‘roadmap’ to business prosperity. Here’s what’s at stake,” Dec. 2). Too often, Oregon’s leading industries and businesses hear platitudes on the importance of economic development only to witness actions that dilute economic development funds, which provide high returns on investment.

Oregon hospitality and leisure is the third-largest private employer sector, creating more than 200,000 jobs and generating $14 billion in annual economic activity – driven in part by state and local lodging taxes.

The state’s 1.5% lodging tax raises approximately $40 million a year and is reinvested in economic development, including tourism promotion and related infrastructure. But some state lawmakers are trying to increase the tax and divert the additional revenue for things without economic benefits – things which should be paid for with general funds. Worse yet, there are efforts to change how county and city lodging taxes are distributed.

State and local lodging taxes are designed to be an economic development tool, and the current system has proven itself – a $40 million investment at the state level and hundreds of millions at local levels for a $14 billion return.

The economic headwinds facing Oregon’s economy are fierce. We should be laser focused on creating the strongest multiplier effect we can with these finite economic development resources. If lawmakers care about Oregon’s economic prosperity, they will abandon these harmful proposals in the upcoming session, and the governor should rebuke any efforts contrary to the goals of her economic development roadmap.

Jason Brandt

Brandt is president and CEO of the Oregon Restaurant and Lodging Association

To read more letters to the editor, go to oregonlive.com/opinion.

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Oregon

College football experts pick Oregon Ducks as 2026 national champions

Published

3 hours ago

January 31, 2026

Press Room

College football experts pick Oregon Ducks as 2026 national champions

The Oregon Ducks have accomplished just about everything possible for a college football team in the last few seasons. They’ve had an undefeated regular season, notched back-to-back College Football Playoff appearances and won a ton of bowl games.

The Ducks have been transformed into a perennial contender, and the only thing still on their agenda is the elusive national championship victory. They’ve gotten closer to reaching that goal in each of Dan Lanning’s first four seasons as head coach, so it feels like just a matter of time.

The college football staff of The Athletic were polled on a wide range of predictions about next season, and the most eye-popping result was next season’s national championship game winner, with Oregon receiving the most votes. Nine people out of 28 votes for them, which may not seem too convincing, but the next closest team was the Notre Dame Fighting Irish with five votes.

The Ducks had their season ended by the Indiana Hoosiers, who went on to win the national championship. However, star quarterback Fernando Mendoza declared for the NFL Draft after the historic victory, so that could be enough to put Oregon in the driver’s seat.

Their own quarterback, Dante Moore, will be back in Eugene next year with another season of experience and a full arsenal of weapons around him to make another run at glory. It feels like this team will always be in contention under Lanning, but this year will be one of the best chances they ever have to finally bring home the national title.

Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.

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Oregon

Oregon Kids Credit issued to some taxpayers in error: What to know

Published

15 hours ago

January 31, 2026

Press Room

Oregon Kids Credit issued to some taxpayers in error: What to know

Some Oregonians who filed their taxes early may receive less than they thought as the Oregon Department of Revenue announced approximately 500 taxpayers will have their refund adjusted after receiving the state’s Kids Credit in error.

The agency provided incorrect instructions for tax forms and with tax preparation software partners at the start of the 2026 tax season regarding how to claim the Oregon Kids Credit.

“As a result, a small number of taxpayers who are not eligible for the Oregon Kids Credit calculated and claimed the Oregon Kids Credit on their returns,” the Department of Revenue said in a release. “An additional small number of taxpayers who are eligible to claim the Oregon Kids Credit claimed too large of a credit.”

Here’s what to know about the error and how it’s being corrected.

How many 2025 tax returns were impacted by the error?

Since the 2026 tax season opened on Jan. 26, the agency said it has processed about 135,000 returns, and the new federal deductions impacted fewer than 500 of those returns, according to the agency.

While the department expects that number to grow as the correction is updated across all filing systems, the agency anticipates that the total number of affected returns will remain low.

“Our IT team will work through the weekend to update our systems to make sure taxpayers don’t face delays because of this error,” DOR Chief Information Officer Jon Dolan said. “We expect Direct File Oregon to be accurately filing returns for Oregon Kids’ Credit claimants by early next week.”

The department recommends that taxpayers who plan to try to claim the Oregon Kids Credit wait to file until Direct File Oregon, or the tax filing software they use, has been fully updated.

What happens to Oregonians who may have received the tax credit in error?

The Department of Revenue is automatically adjusting any returns affected by the error.

Any Oregon taxpayer who may have received the Kids Credit or too large of a credit as a result of the error does not need to take any action. They will be notified of the adjustment by mail, as well as through their Revenue Online account.

“We will make the correction to their return, but we also want to manage taxpayers’ expectations,” Department of Revenue Director David Gerstenfeld said. “Unfortunately, their refund may be less than they anticipated. We know that a difference of even $100 can be very impactful for low-income families with young children, and we sincerely apologize for the error.”

How can Oregonians correctly claim the Oregon Kids’ Credit?

Oregon taxpayers claiming the Oregon Kids Credit are now offered a new form of assistance by the Oregon Department of Revenue to ensure they claim the correct credit amount when they electronically file their tax year 2025 return.

What is the Oregon Kids’ Credit?

The Oregon Kids Credit is a refundable credit for low-income families with young dependent children.

The full credit offers $1,050 per child, up to five children, on a modified adjusted gross income of $26,550 or less. A partial credit is also available for families with a modified adjusted gross income of up to $31,550.

What was the error?

To qualify for the Kids Credit, Oregonians must meet the requirements for their modified adjusted gross income.

The error stemmed from how new federal deductions created under House Resolution 1, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill, for overtime pay, tips, and new car loan interest are calculated when determining Oregon taxpayers’ modified adjusted gross income.

According to the agency, the federal legislation made major changes to tax law that were quickly incorporated into Department of Revenue forms, instructions and processes. Incorrect instructions were provided on forms for the federal deductions, creating an error in calculating the modified adjusted gross income.

Where can Oregonians go if they have questions about the Kids Credit?

For any questions regarding the Oregon Kids’ Credit, Oregonians can visit the department’s website at www.oregon.gov/dor/programs/individuals/Pages/okc-faq.aspx.

Taxpayers can also call 503-947-0350 or email questions.dor@dor.oregon.gov.

Ginnie Sandoval is the Oregon Connect reporter for the Statesman Journal. Sandoval can be reached at GSandoval@statesmanjournal.com or on X at @GinnieSandoval.

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Oregon

FOX 12 Investigates interview: Oregon AG Dan Rayfield

Published

1 day ago

January 30, 2026

Press Room

FOX 12 Investigates interview: Oregon AG Dan Rayfield

PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) – Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield sat down with FOX 12 Investigates Reporter Ezra Kaplan to discuss how he successfully blocked the Trump administration’s push to deploy National Guard troops to Portland. Watch the entire interview here in the player above, or on the FOX 12 Oregon app for Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV.

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