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Commissioners discuss REIT, hotel‑motel and car‑rental funds; staff seeks match for Plants Ferry sports grant
Summary
Staff reviewed REIT 1 and 2 fund summaries, hotel‑motel and car‑rental tax balances, and said they would seek a $1 million hotel‑motel match if commissioners approve using that fund to complete a state grant for the Plants Ferry sports fields.
County budget staff reviewed the county’s REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust-like) fund balances and other lodging-related special revenue funds on Oct. 6, and commissioners discussed using hotel‑motel tax funds as a match for a state grant to finish artificial turf fields at Plants Ferry Sports Stadium.
Why it matters: REIT, hotel‑motel and car‑rental funds are restricted or targeted revenue sources that the county and external partners use for capital projects, tourism promotion and amateur sports facilities. How the county allocates these balances affects other funding priorities and outside-agency support.
What staff presented: Budget staff said REIT 1 and REIT 2 each project about $3.5 million in 2026 revenue, with REIT 1 holding a larger available fund balance (presented roughly $10.7 million). Staff said both REIT funds and their projected balances will be used in the 6‑year CIP discussion next week so commissioners can prioritize projects and funding sources.
Hotel‑motel and Plants Ferry match: Staff explained hotel‑motel tax revenues are used for tourism and sporting facilities and said the county previously defeased Avista Stadium concession debt; hotel‑motel had healthy fund balances. The state legislature appropriated roughly $1 million to finish artificial turf fields at Plants Ferry; county staff said a $1 million local match is needed. Staff proposed using $1 million from the hotel‑motel fund balance for that match (staff noted the county had already contributed $1 million from car‑rental tax this year to the project). If approved as proposed, staff said the hotel‑motel fund would still show a projected unallocated balance of about $370,000 in 2026.
Discussion and limits: Commissioners asked whether the hotel‑motel dollars were already pledged to Visit Spokane or otherwise committed; staff said the proposed match would come from fund balance and would not conflict with amounts already allocated. Commissioners asked to defer formal decisions to the CIP/budget process; staff requested a timely signal because the Department of Commerce paperwork for the state grant is in progress.
Car‑rental tax: Staff noted retail car‑rental tax is restricted to youth and amateur sports facilities; it produced sizable revenue (presentation cited approx. $816,000) and the county used $1 million in 2025 from that fund toward Plants Ferry. Commissioners discussed the interaction between car‑rental, hotel‑motel and REIT funds and how best to prioritize projects.
Next steps: Staff will present REIT/CIP prioritization and the request for formal allocation in upcoming budget/CIP meetings. No formal appropriation or vote occurred on Oct. 6.
