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Polk County sets hotel‑motel tax shares for historical commission and commerce center
Summary
Polk County Commissioners Court voted to allocate 25% of annual hotel‑motel occupancy tax revenue to the Polk County Higher Education Technology Foundation (Commerce Center) and 25% to the Polk County Historical Commission, each capped at $30,000, with the remaining 25% reserved for county‑sponsored events.
The Polk County Commissioners Court voted May 13 to revise distribution of the county’s hotel‑motel occupancy tax revenue, assigning two named entities fixed shares and capping each at $30,000 annually.
Under the court’s motion, beginning Oct. 1, 2025 the Polk County Higher Education Technology Foundation (the Commerce Center) and the Polk County Historical Commission each would receive 25% of the county’s annual hotel‑motel occupancy tax revenue, subject to an annual funding cap of $30,000 per entity. The remaining 25% of collections would be reserved for county‑sponsored events and initiatives.
Commissioners said the proposed list of qualifying uses was reviewed by a committee that included the county judge, Commissioner Robertson and Treasurer Terry Williams. The court packet included a list of outside entities that historically requested hotel‑motel funds and a copy of the current agreement with the chamber for comparison. The court noted that hotel‑motel tax revenue must be used for “very, very specific things,” and that the committee’s recommended recipients and uses comply with those statutory restrictions.
Commissioner Robertson moved for the allocation and Commissioner Dubose seconded. The motion carried with the court approving the new agreements effective Oct. 1, 2025.
County staff will prepare the new agreements to reflect the percentages and the annual caps and will manage payments under the county’s financial procedures.
