MAYOR'S MESSAGE Local Voices, Local Choices: Make Your Vote Count This November As we look ahead to fall, I want to take a moment to encourage everyone in Coos Bay to participate in one of the most important responsibilities we have as citizens—voting. The November 3, 2026, General Election gives Coos Bay voters an opportunity to choose their local representatives and consider a proposed amendment to the City Charter. Voters will elect a Mayor to a two-year term and three City Councilors to four-year terms. I have filed for another term as Mayor, and Sara Stephens, Jacob Niebergall, and Carmen Matthews have filed for the three City Council positions. Serving our community in elected office is a significant commitment, and I appreciate those who are willing to put their names forward and serve the people of Coos Bay. Coos Bay voters will also consider Measure 6-230, which proposes several amendments to the City Charter. I want to provide a little background on why these changes are being brought before the voters. Our City Charter is an important document that establishes the framework for how our City operates. Over time, circumstances change, and occasionally the Charter needs to be updated to reflect both the priorities of our community and how the City operates today. A significant part of the proposed amendment involves the City's transient lodging tax, or TLT, which is paid by visitors staying in our local lodging establishments. Recent changes in state law have given communities an opportunity to reconsider how some of those tourism dollars are allocated. Here in Coos Bay, we currently invest these dollars in promoting our area and supporting tourism, and the proposed amendment would put that commitment into our Charter. We have seen the impact of that investment, and I believe there is still tremendous opportunity to bring more visitors to our community. Those visitors stay in our hotels, eat in our restaurants, shop in our businesses, attend events, and experience the many things that make the Bay Area special. Tourism promotion is also a regional effort. Coos Bay works alongside North Bend, Coos County, and the Coquille Indian Tribe in supporting our area's Visitor and Convention Bureau. Maintaining a strong investment in that partnership helps us continue telling our story and bringing people to the region. The proposed Charter amendment would formalize the allocation we are currently following by requiring at least 70 percent of transient lodging tax revenues to continue to be used for tourism promotion and tourism-related facilities and activities, while allowing up to 30 percent for other municipal purposes. In my view, putting that commitment in the Charter provides some certainty for the future. We have seen what investing in tourism can do for our area, and I believe continuing that investment gives us an opportunity to welcome even more visitors and strengthen our local economy. The measure also addresses our former Municipal Court. The City discontinued its Municipal Court in the early 2000s during a period of significant financial constraints that required the City to reduce its workforce and services. Municipal courts are locally funded, and operating one requires funding for a judge, court staff, legal services, records and case management, and other administrative costs. Because Oregon circuit courts also have jurisdiction to hear many of the matters previously handled by the Municipal Court, those cases could continue to be heard through the state court system after the City's court was closed. There are also some administrative and housekeeping changes included in the measure to update outdated language and provisions of the Charter. Ultimately, changes to our City Charter belong in the hands of the voters. A "yes" vote on Measure 6-230 would approve the proposed amendments, while a "no" vote would leave the existing Charter unchanged. Whether you are considering the candidates who have stepped forward to serve or the proposed changes to our Charter, I encourage you to learn about the issues, ask questions, and make an informed decision. Local elections matter. The decisions we make here at home shape the services we provide, the investments we make, and the direction of our community for years to come. Most importantly, please make your voice heard and vote on November 3. -Joe Benetti, Mayor of Coos Bay