Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Tourism Budget Pillowtax topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Tourism office keeps 5% hotel tax, flags one large hotel closure and maintains marketing plans
Summary
LaSalle County tourism officials presented a FY2026 budget that keeps the hotel (pillow) tax at 5%, highlighted healthy cash reserves, and noted the pending closure of a major hotel that could reduce next year’s revenue by roughly $200,000; marketing plans and contingency use of cash on hand were discussed.
LaSalle County tourism leaders told the Finance Committee Aug. 12 they plan to keep the county’s hotel (pillow) tax at the current 5% rate and continue a robust marketing program supported by cash on hand.
Tourism committee member Jill (last name not specified) said, "We are right now collecting 5% pillow tax, which I believe is the maximum, and I would like for it to stay that at 5%." She and Amanda, the tourism administrator, reported a healthy cash balance and said the office used fund balance in the prior year to expand marketing.
The tourism office noted it distributed about $100,000 in grants to 19 local projects in the previous year and runs billboards on Route 80 and Route 39 and a second year of a Cubs commercial. Amanda said she reduced miscellaneous expenses and kept the marketing plan intact; the office maintains funds to respond to opportunistic advertising such as sports playoff promotion.
Committee members asked about revenue forecasting after Amanda said one major lodging property — referenced in the meeting as "Holiday Inn 1" / Silver Leaf — is closing, which could reduce pillow‑tax receipts by about $200,000 if not replaced by another operator. Amanda and committee members said that level of cash on hand is why they prefer to hold a larger reserve while marketing to replace lost revenue.
The tourism budget was initialed by the committee for submission to the board; no final vote on tax rate was taken because the pillow tax rate is set by ordinance and was not on the immediate agenda for change.
