The Sullivan County Commission voted Sept. 18 to authorize the county purchasing agent to advertise a request for qualifications (RFQ) for tourism marketing and tourism enhancement services to be financed from the portion of county occupancy tax revenues that the commission directs to the county’s tourism office.

The resolution restates that 50% of county occupancy tax revenue will continue to be directed to Netta (NEDA per transcript language) under earlier resolution 24‑11‑08 and that the remaining 50% may be used via contracts administered by the county’s purchasing office. The purchasing department will follow its standard RFQ review protocols; selected contractors would coordinate with county administration and present reports to the full commission no less than once per quarter, the resolution says.

The item drew extended debate. Supporters said a contracted tourism specialist or firm could deliver focused, measurable marketing and expand the county’s sales tax base by attracting visitors. Commissioner Harrison, reporting on a statewide tourism conference, said tourism growth can expand the sales‑tax base and reduce pressure on property taxes. Matthew Johnson, Director of Archives and Tourism, told the commission that while some marketing and event work can be handled in‑house, tourism firms have specialized expertise and the county has outsourced parts of such work in other jurisdictions.

Opponents voiced concerns about duplicating services and losing local control. Several commissioners asked why the county would advertise for outside contractors when the county already directs $800,000 annually to NEDA and has existing local efforts. Commissioner Glover asked whether the county had approached NEDA with specific program needs; meeting participants said collaborations had occurred but not to the level some expected. Commissioners also discussed whether infrastructure projects such as a farmers market would qualify as tourism expenditures under state rules that define tourism visitors as people traveling more than 50 miles.

Sponsor Zane Vanover and other commissioners said the RFQ process would include local contractors and require coordination with NEDA to avoid duplication. A motion to waive the rules and adopt the resolution passed on a roll call the clerk reported as 16 yes, 6 no and 2 recorded as other/absent; the item was adopted.

What the resolution does and does not do: it authorizes the purchasing agent to advertise an RFQ and establish a selection process; it does not itself award a contract or change existing allocations to NEDA. Commissioners asked to add an amendment directing that any recommended contractor selection return to the commission for final approval; the sponsor said the RFQ/selection is step one and contracting and any proposed expenditures would return for appropriate approvals.

Several commissioners requested legal and administrative clarification about permissible uses of occupancy tax revenue (particularly the state’s 50‑mile definition of a tourist) and whether capital projects such as a farmers market would comply. The transcript records that the county must revisit its annual arrangement with NEDA each year and that Netta/NEDA funds are restricted by the state to activities that attract visitors from beyond a 50‑mile radius.

Next steps: the purchasing agent will be authorized to advertise the RFQ; any shortlisted contractor negotiations and contracts will be handled per purchasing procedures and, according to comments at the meeting, would come back to the commission for final approval before contracts are executed.