Baker County commissioners debate wolf bill as Legislature approves it

Rancher Curtis Martin told the Baker County Board of Commissioners at their March 4 meeting in Baker City to oppose House Bill 4134, saying the measure “would hurt ranchers in the long run” even though it contains a provision to help livestock owners; Martin acknowledged his plea was “likely to be symbolic.” That same day the Oregon Senate approved HB 4134 by a 20-9 vote, a step that follows a 36-22 House passage on Feb. 24 and moves the bill to Gov. Tina Kotek’s desk.

HB 4134 would raise the state lodging tax from 1.5% to 2.75%, a change the Baker City Herald reported is expected to generate about $37 million per year. The lodging tax increase would apply to stays at motels, vacation rental homes, RV parks and other lodging businesses operating in Baker County and across Oregon.

The bill directs some of that new revenue to compensate livestock owners whose animals are killed or injured by wolves, while also diverting lodging tax dollars to state agencies. HB 4134 allocates funds to the Oregon State Police and the Oregon Department of Justice for efforts “to combat poaching,” and to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife for “wildlife connectivity and wildlife stewardship,” according to local reporting.

Local agricultural groups and county officials voiced opposition at recent meetings. The Baker County Livestock Association voted unanimously on Feb. 18 to oppose HB 4134, and Witham - the county’s liaison to the Baker County wolf compensation committee - wrote to the Legislature saying she supports paying livestock owners more for wolf losses but called it “horrible” that lodging tax revenue would be dispersed to other projects. The Baker City Herald coverage and a Blue Mountain Eagle headline noted tension among commissioners over the compensation bill during the March 4 discussion.

At the state level, Sen. Mike McLane, R-Powell Butte, who represents a district that includes Baker County, voted against the Senate passage on March 4. With legislative approval complete, HB 4134 now awaits action from Gov. Tina Kotek; passage would implement the higher lodging tax and the new funding streams, while a veto would leave current state lodging tax rules intact.

Baker County ranchers, the livestock association and the commission’s wolf compensation liaison have signaled continued concern about how the estimated $37 million in new revenue would be split and how compensation for wolf losses would be administered, leaving local stakeholders watching the governor’s decision for the next concrete step.