Lodging Tax Committee Meeting - 21 Oct 2026

The City of Woodland, Washington, Lodging Tax Committee met on October 21, 2026, to hear presentations from tourism and community organizations seeking 2027 lodging-tax funding and discuss the available budget. The committee heard that lodging-tax revenue was trending upward, with approximately $56,000 collected through September 2026 and projected annual revenue of about $74,000–$75,000. Members discussed limiting allocations to $71,000 to preserve a small reserve; the city reported roughly $3,000 in reserves from 2025. Presenters described tourism promotion and visitor activity, including Downtown Woodland Revitalization’s welcome center, the Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens’ 13,500-plus Lilac Days visitors, and the Kelso-Longview Chamber’s regional visitor guide. No contracts, vendor selections, or capital purchases were considered.

The committee approved a funding recommendation totaling $71,000: $53,000 for Downtown Woodland Revitalization, $10,000 for Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens, $5,000 for Planters Days, and $3,000 for the Woodland Senior Enrichment Group. The Kelso-Longview Chamber of Commerce received no allocation in the approved recommendation, despite requesting $2,000 for a visitor-guide advertisement. The recommendation reduced Downtown Woodland Revitalization’s request and the Senior Enrichment Group’s request; final funding consideration remains with the city’s decision-making process.