Pacific Tourism Commission approves 2026 budget, creates grant-style funding process and okays penny press and landscaping purchases

Pacific Tourism Commission members approved a draft 2026 tourism budget and several spending and program changes during a meeting where commissioners and staff reviewed event line items, capital purchases and how bed‑tax money should be allocated.

The commission approved a budget that the presenter said estimates $321,200 in expenses and roughly $1,067,900 in event and other revenue, with bed‑tax receipts estimated at $135,000; combined, the presenter said the numbers “actually put us in the black at $9,700.” Tourism Director O’Malley presented the spreadsheet and walked commissioners through individual events and capital items.

Commission members said most event line items were based on historical expenditure and revenue, and discussed several new or uncertain items including a Route 66 Barbecue, Battle of the Bands, and Railroad Days. Commissioners noted big-ticket items deserve line‑item breakdowns and bids; one member asked staff to supply detailed estimates for any budgeted item in five figures.

On funding of the Pacific Partnership (a downtown events/partnership group), the commission voted to taper bed‑tax support rather than end it immediately. Commissioners…