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Geneva council approves $50,000 hotel‑tax sponsorship for four city festivals
Summary
The council approved a $50,000 expenditure from the municipal hotel operator's occupation tax to be a presenting sponsor of four Geneva Chamber of Commerce festivals after staff told the council the spending meets state statutory limits for non–home-rule communities.
The Geneva City Council approved a resolution authorizing the city to spend $50,000 from the municipal hotel operator’s occupation tax to be a presenting sponsor of four Chamber of Commerce festivals.
City staff explained that as a non–home-rule community the city must follow state statute on allowable uses of hotel-operator tax revenue: funds must be expended to promote tourism and conventions or to attract nonresident overnight visitors, and may not be used to advertise new competition in the hotel industry. Director Eschenko told the council that structuring the city as a presenting sponsor for the Geneva Chamber’s Swedish Days, Geneva Arts Fair, Festival of the Vine and Christmas Walk meets the statutory requirements and allows the chamber flexibility in how it uses the funds.
Administrator Dawkins said the city and the chamber have worked to update a 30‑year service agreement and that the proposed funding fits within the city’s fiscal 2026 budget. The chamber board chair provided support for the resolution, staff said.
The council voted by roll call; the motion carried with nine affirmative votes and two alderpersons absent. Mayor Burns said the city will raise the pride flag at City Hall and invited the public to attend the event the next afternoon.
The council’s approval authorizes the city to be a presenting sponsor for calendar year 2025 at a total aggregate amount of $50,000 and does not change the chamber’s status as an independent 501(c)(6) organization.
