The City of Bend has released the following information and updates for business owners.
Childcare
Central Oregon is a childcare desert, meaning we have less than one-third of the available slots families need for pre-school age children (in fact, this is the case in 25 of Oregon’s 36 Counties). Much like Bend’s need for housing, employees can afford that this issue has many components, but the result is the same: A lack of childcare in Bend makes it harder to attract and retain staff.
With this in mind, in January, the Bend City Council approved an amendment to its two-year goals to acknowledge the need for childcare and devote staff and financial resources to expanding the number of available slots in Bend. You can view a snapshot of the new goals here.
Now that we have a goal — 562 new childcare slots in Bend by June 30, 2021 — we have an avenue to work with our partners, including NeighborImpact and the Bend Chamber of Commerce, to move the needle.
One successful avenue for getting new childcare facilities developed is through employer assistance. This could mean purchasing a block of available slots to pass on to your employees, or siting a childcare provider at your business. For business owners with ideas on how to move this Council Goal forward, please email bhemson@bendoregon.gov.
Transportation Bond Moves Forward
At its meeting on February 5, the Bend City Council unanimously agreed to send a transportation bond of up to $190 million to Bend voters on the May ballot. The proposed bond list includes all manner of transportation improvements throughout town. If you’d like to find out more about what’s proposed, you can find a detailed website and interactive map here.
Once the bond is accepted by the County Clerk on February 21, state law prohibits city staff from providing much information, and certainly no editorializing, on active ballot measures. This means you won’t see any news on the bond in City Council newsletters until after the May 19 election.
As elected officials, City Councilors can communicate about the bond. If you’re looking for an in-person forum or have questions, you can always reach out to Council. You can also check in with your Neighborhood Association, local business organizations or civic groups to see if they’re hosting any sort of informational session.
CAT Forums Coming Up
Oregon’s new Corporate Activity Tax (CAT), requires businesses with commercial activity in the state exceeding $750,000 to register for the tax. Businesses, of any type, with Oregon commercial activity exceeding $1 million annually are subject to a tax of $250 on the first $1 million of gross receipts and a .57 percent tax on gross receipts in excess of $1 million.
If you’re still grappling with questions around the CAT and what it means for your business, check in with your tax professional.
For more info on the State rules, you can find FAQ here. The Oregon Department of Revenue is also hosting a series of education sessions across the state in March, including one in Bend on Monday, March 2. You can catch the full tour list here.
What: Bend CAT Education Session
When: Monday, March 2, 6-7:30pm
Where: Science 190, Central Oregon Community College, 2600 NW College Way, Bend
bendoregon.gov/business • (541) 388-5529 • bhemson@bendoregon.gov
