Council directs full lodging-tax funding for Harvest Days after split advisory recommendation

Council signaled support for fully funding the Battleground Festivals Association's Harvest Days event with lodging-tax dollars after the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) split on whether to award the full request.

Megan (staff member) said LTAC votes were split — some committee members favored the full $66,725 request while others recommended $50,000 — and told council there had been no substantive discussion explaining the lower figure before the committee motion. "There was not any discussion about lowering the dollar amount to 50,000 until the motion came forward," Megan said.

Staff noted the lodging-tax fund had roughly $280,000 in available resources, and that LTAC awards are reimbursable: applicants are reimbursed only for documented, eligible expenses incurred. Because the committee is advisory and council has final authority over amounts, staff asked council for direction. With no objections expressed, council directed staff to include the full $66,725 award in the budget.

Council also reviewed other LTAC recommendations for 2026, including an Oktoberfest/autumn-day proposal, film-festival and bridal-event requests, the Best Western advertising requests, and routine reimbursement rules and eligibility definitions for tourism-focused projects. Staff reminded council that the LTAC cannot add a previously unrecommended event to the fund; council can change award amounts but must notify the committee, which may respond to council amendments.

This was direction to staff rather than a formal adopted appropriation; LTAC-approved reimbursements occur only after recipients spend and submit eligible documentation for reimbursement.