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Council approves 2025 bed-tax grants; Chamber award withheld until 2024 financial report filed
Summary
Council adopted the bed-tax grant recommendations prepared by Council Members Buskirk and Shea, but directed staff to withhold the Chamber of Commerce award until the chamber provides its 2024 report showing prior grant usage.
Canal Winchester City Council adopted its 2025 bed-tax grant distribution on Jan. 21 after amending the resolution to withhold the Chamber of Commerce’s disbursement until the chamber files its 2024 financial report.
Finance Director Amanda Jackson told council the recommended distribution was prepared by Council Members Buskirk and Shea; Jackson said she could not confirm receipt of the chamber’s 2024 report. Members of council expressed support for the grants overall but requested consistent enforcement of reporting requirements.
Council debated a short procedural window: several members advocated conditional approval so that the rest of the approved organizations receive their funds, while the chamber’s award is held pending the outstanding report. Council agreed to give the chamber a brief period to provide the missing documentation; Council Member Buskirk agreed to contact the chamber directly.
The resolution was adopted with recorded abstentions during the roll call where two council members abstained. Council and staff recorded that, should the chamber fail to supply the report, the conditional funds would be redistributed or revert to the fund balance per council direction at a subsequent meeting.
Council asked staff to proceed with payments to other awardees and to report back at the next meeting if the chamber’s documentation has not been provided.
