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Hollidaysburg council backs inquiry tied to Explore Altoona decertification
Summary
Council voted to approve Resolution 2025-11 supporting the countyprocess that could lead to decertification of Explore Altoona; public testimony included tourism-board officials and a county commissioner urging action to redirect bed-tax revenue toward trails and regional recreation.
HOLLidaysburg, Pa. — Hollidaysburg Borough Council voted to approve Resolution 2025-11 on March 13, supporting the countyprocess related to Explore Altoona, the countytourism organization.
The action came after a series of public comments both in favor of and urging caution about changing the existing tourism authority. Carl Kaiser, a long-time Explore Altoona board member, urged the council to consider the organizations past work and warned against hasty changes: "I would hope that you would understand that this organization has done 1 hell of a job here in this area," he said.
County Commissioner Amy Webster appeared and said she was speaking on behalf of the county commissioners seeking municipal support for a formal investigation into decertifying Explore Altoona. "We are in the process of seeking the sufficient number of population votes from various municipalities," Webster said, describing the step as preliminary and saying any decertification would be followed by a public hearing.
The council heard from other residents who supported the idea of redirecting or clarifying use of hotel/bed-tax revenue toward trail and recreational development. George Foster told council members the resolution showed "great political courage" and said he believed the change would benefit Hollidaysburg by drawing more visitors.
Council members moved and seconded the resolution; a voice vote was taken and the motion passed. The transcript does not record a roll-call tally or which council member made the motion.
Why it matters: The bed-tax (hotel tax) is statutorily authorized for tourism and promotion; how localities allocate or oversee the recipient organization affects which projects—such as trails, parks and event promotion—receive grant applications and bed-tax-supported funding. Proponents at the meeting said a new local authority focusing on trails, parks and recreation would allow the county to pursue recreational grants and connect regional assets. Opponents and representatives of Explore Altoona cautioned that past agreements and uses of funds are complex and that changes could disrupt existing partnerships.
What the council recorded: Resolution 2025-11 was approved; the motion was carried by voice vote and the record shows no named votes. The resolution text was discussed in public comment but specific language of the resolution was not read aloud in the transcript and is therefore "not specified" in this report.
Next steps: County commissioners will continue the process described by Commissioner Amy Webster, including gathering municipal support and, if thresholds are met, holding a public hearing before any formal decertification vote.
