Council keeps Positively Superior funding amid debate over hotel-motel tax use

The Common Council voted Oct. 20 to approve the finance committee’s recommendations for the 2016 hotel-motel tax fund, including continued funding for Positively Superior magazine, after a debate among councilors over whether hotel-motel taxes should pay for advertising in a private publication. Councilor Olsen asked to remove the item for discussion, and after discussion a motion to approve the committee recommendations carried. The motion passed by voice vote.

Councilor Olsen objected to the city budgeting $13,500 to Positively Superior and an additional $16,200 cited as advertising payments, saying the hotel-motel tax should fund activities that clearly put “heads and beds” in local lodging. Proponents, including Councilor Finsland, said the magazine is one of the city’s few vehicles that promote local businesses and that the allocation purchases three pages per issue from the publication. Director Vito clarified that funding for Positively Superior comes from multiple sources: the city’s hotel-motel allocation, Business Improvement District (BID) funds run through the city, and a smaller amount from the general fund; some sums appear in the city accounting for the magazine because the city administers payments for the BID.

Councilors also discussed broader criteria for organization funding and noted that some organizations seeking hotel-motel tax funding have substantial reserves; finance committee members said applicants should be invited to committee meetings to explain their budgets and requests. The finance committee recommended leaving general-fund criteria in committee for further review. After discussion, the council approved the consent-agenda block that included the hotel-motel allocations.