Thurston County reviews 2026 lodging-tax priorities; board proposes $334,000 allocation including FIFA fan zone contribution

Olympia, Wash. — At its Oct. 1 work session, the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners received a staff update on lodging-tax (LTAC) priorities for 2026, including changes to the LTAC scoring sheet that add weight for events and projects in unincorporated South Thurston County and a proposed $334,000 county allocation that would include an $84,000 contribution toward a FIFA fan zone.

Ellen Massey, management analyst for Thurston County, explained that lodging tax revenues are collected by the state from paid overnight stays — including hotels, motels, B&Bs, campgrounds and RV parks — and then distributed to counties for tourism marketing, promotion of special events, and operations or capital costs of tourism-related facilities. "The lodging tax is gathered by the state ... and then those funds are given to Thurston County and can be distributed for tourism, marketing, promotion of special events, and operations and capital expenditures for tourism related facilities," Massey said.

Why it matters: Lodging-tax revenues are restricted to tourism-related uses and are a key funding source for events and promotion that aim to generate visitor “heads and beds” — paid overnight stays — which LTAC scoring and priorities try to maximize in unincorporated parts of the county.

Massey described the LTAC process as set by state law (RCW): a…