9-2-26 City of Oak Harbor Lodging Tax Advisory Committee

The City of Oak Harbor Lodging Tax Advisory Committee convened on September 2, 2026, to review and discuss lodging tax funding requests and applications for various community events and projects. Key procurement-related discussions included the approval of a contract amendment for the Oak Harbor Main Street Association to reallocate $11,280 from an Oktoberfest event to a new Home for the Holidays event, which was unanimously approved by the committee. The committee also deliberated on a separate $50,000 funding request from the Chamber of Commerce for an Independence Day fireworks show, which was proposed as an interlocal agreement outside the usual competitive application process. Due to concerns about compliance with state law and precedent, the committee decided to seek further legal guidance before proceeding with this request. Additionally, the committee heard presentations from 20 applicants requesting lodging tax funds for events and marketing initiatives aimed at boosting tourism and economic activity in Oak Harbor. The committee planned to score the applications and deliberate further in upcoming meetings, with a focus on ensuring adherence to legal requirements and maximizing the impact of lodging tax expenditures.