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Commission briefed on proposed TRT changes, including grant pool for search-and-rescue
Summary
County received an update on two legislative proposals that would change how transient room tax (TRT) revenue can be used and create a grant pool for public-safety uses funded by a rate increase.
Lincoln told the Beaver County Commission on Jan. 21 that two bills are being tracked that would change how counties can use TRT (transient room tax) revenue. One proposal from Representative Bollander (described in the briefing but not yet numbered) would allow counties to direct proceeds from a TRT rate increase into a grant pool that counties could apply to for public-safety projects such as search-and-rescue. Another bill (referred to as the "Rec Ships" bill in the briefing) would broaden allowable uses of TRT revenue on base rates to include some public-safety and correctional facility infrastructure, but the legislation would bar using those funds to pay staff salaries.
Lincoln said the grant-pool approach could benefit rural counties that generate less TRT revenue because it would create a competitive pool funded by the rate increase. He cautioned the commission that hoteliers typically prefer TRT be used for tourism promotion and might oppose broader flexibility. He said the Bollander bill had not yet been numbered and the rec-ships bill was in draft form.
Why it matters: counties use TRT revenue for tourism and related infrastructure; changes to allowable uses or a pooled grant program could expand funding options for rural counties’ safety and infrastructure projects, but would change how local TRT revenue is allocated and governed.
No vote was taken on the bills during the meeting; staff was asked to continue tracking the proposals and share drafts as they become available.
