Uphill climb; Commissioner, campaign foes weigh in on candidate’s Bachelor buyout proposal
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Rob Imhoff, a candidate for Deschutes County Commissioner, has proposed that the county purchase Mount Bachelor to ensure the ski resort remains a community asset. Imhoff suggested the acquisition would help maintain affordability for residents instead of catering primarily to tourists and shareholders.
The proposal follows a brief period last year when the resort's owner, Powdr, put the mountain up for sale before taking it off the market. While the plan aims for local control, current county officials and other candidates have raised concerns about the multi-million dollar price tag and the county's existing debt obligations for projects like the jail and courthouse.
Imhoff, who is running for the new fifth seat on the Deschutes County Commission, explained that his proposal aims to shift the mountain's priority away from corporate profits. Imhoff described the plan as a way to prioritize local residents over the tourism industry.
"I don't think the county should act as a manager of the mountain," Imhoff said. "The idea was that the county is going to try to purchase it so that it remains an asset for Deschutes County and it doesn't pay off business shareholders that really don't have any vested interest in anything more than just making more money with the mountain."
Deschutes County Commissioner Phil Chang described the proposal as a risky business venture, citing the region's inconsistent year-to-year weather patterns. Chang noted that the county is currently managing several significant financial commitments, including a $20 million bond for the county courthouse, a new jail and a planned sports complex.
"We would have to be prepared to issue a couple hundred million dollars worth of bonds," Chang said. "Deschutes County's debt financing capacity is already spoken for for years to come. I can't see us going to the voters and borrowing a couple of $100 million more, to purchase Mount Bachelor when it's not core county business."
While Chang expressed support for the idea of local ownership, he said the resort should be purchased by a private business rather than the county government.
Morgan Schmidt, who is also running for the commission's fifth seat, expressed concern about the county's financial health. "Two things can be true: local, co-op ownership of Mt. Bachelor would be a win for our families, economy and community - and - our county is facing hard financial decisions," Schmidt said.
Schmidt noted that the county is currently dealing with an affordable housing crisis, wildfire risks, water scarcity and cuts to mental health funding. "We need to focus on keeping essential services open, not buying a ski resort," Schmidt said.
Rondo Boozell, another candidate for the seat, declined to comment on the proposal.
Imhoff added that the purchase is not currently a top priority for his campaign, but said he hopes the proposal will start a conversation about the future of the mountain.
The feasibility of such a purchase faces several logistical hurdles. Mount Bachelor is situated on U.S. Forest Service land, which would require the county to reach an agreement with the federal government. Additionally, a sale would require the current owner, Powdr, to be willing to sell the property. Running the resort would also involve significant annual operational costs.
