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Ironton council debates use of hotel tax for forgivable business loans and $61,000 for Christmas decorations; motion moves forward
Summary
Council members debated whether a $50,000 forgivable business loan (funded by hotel excise tax) should instead be structured as a repayable loan and discussed a proposed $61,000 allocation for long-term Christmas decorations. Council voted on the budget ordinance motion and recorded aye votes; staff said further amendments will be presented.
Councilmembers debated an economic-development funding line and a $61,000 proposed allocation for municipal Christmas decorations during the Feb. 27 meeting.
Councilmember Chris said he opposed a $50,000 forgivable loan being disbursed unilaterally from the mayor’s office and argued larger forgivable awards should be subject to committee or council review; he suggested a revolving loan that required repayment so the fund could be reused. Other councilmembers and the mayor replied that the fund had been designed to be administered by the executive branch and that in the recent funding round the mayor’s office awarded grants averaging about $4,000 to multiple businesses, with some awards up to about $12,000.
On Christmas decorations, staff noted difficulty sourcing a tree and fixtures in recent years and said the $61,000 request was for an artificial tree and durable downtown display items that would be a longer-term investment and might attract winter visitors. Council members differed on whether community-development funds or the economic-development fund were the appropriate source; staff and council noted both funds are primarily supported by the hotel/motel excise tax and that Ohio Revised Code (ORC) language restricts some uses.
At the conclusion of debate councilmember Haney moved to advance the ordinance to adopt the operating budget for fiscal year 2025 (first reading with an emergency declaration noted in the agenda). The motion was seconded and a roll-call of aye votes was recorded; council members later said an amended budget may be presented and that some items will return for further consideration.
Ending: Council agreed to continue oversight and to have staff prepare any necessary amended budget language for a future meeting; members asked for follow-up reports on funded small businesses and a timetable for the decorations investment.
