Clovis Lodgers Tax board recommends $80,000 in grants to local events; sends package to City Commission

The City of Clovis Lodgers Tax Board on July 8 recommended $80,000 in grant awards to eight local events and organizations and will send the package to the City Commission for final approval at its July 17 meeting.

Board members heard brief presentations from applicants — including the Clovis Evening Lions Club, CBT Barrel Racing, Black Pearl (Earl Large) Boxing, Little Ballers Inc., the Clovis–Curry County Chamber of Commerce, Curry County Event Center, and the Roadrunner Rabbit Breeders Association — before approving the funding recommendations by unanimous vote. Finance staff presented the board with the fund balance and how the awards would affect available funding for the fiscal year.

“We ended last fiscal year with a cash balance of $274,000. We had $212,000 in carry overs, leaving a balance of $62,000 that can go into this year's available funding. We've budgeted for an additional 200, almost $290,000 into the fund, giving us total available for distribution starting the year with $352,000,” said Mister Holt, who provided the board’s financial briefing. Holt told the board the allocations average about $58,000 to $59,000 per meeting and that if the board awarded all current requests the remaining available balance would be about $252,000.

Votes at a glance

- Clovis Evening Lions Club — recommended award: $6,000 (requested $8,400). Event: fall gun/knife show; expected vendor presence and hotel usage discussed by applicant Susie. Board found the Lions’ history of local spending a supporting factor. (Recommendation sent to City Commission) - CBT Barrel Racing — recommended award: $10,000 (requested $14,500). Applicant Angie outlined multi-day competition and participant travel; board noted prior funding history. (Recommendation sent to City Commission) - Black Pearl (Earl Large) Boxing Legacy — recommended award: $5,000 (requested $5,000). Applicant Earl Large said the event draws regional fighters and multi-night stays. (Recommendation sent to City Commission) - Little Ballers Inc. — recommended award: $3,000 (requested $3,000). Applicant Iris Jones said the nonprofit runs youth sports tournaments expected to draw teams from surrounding cities. (Recommendation sent to City Commission) - Clovis–Curry County Chamber of Commerce (special events coordinator) — recommended additional award: $15,000 (applicant requested additional funds beyond prior $20,000 award). Ernie Koss described the coordinator’s role in regional tourism promotion. (Recommendation sent to City Commission) - Curry County Event Center (Curry County Fair marketing) — recommended additional award: $15,000 (applicant requested additional funds on top of prior $20,000 award). Casey Messick described expanded digital and regional advertising plans and target markets outside Clovis. (Recommendation sent to City Commission) - Roadrunner Rabbit Breeders Association (Roadrunner RBA) — recommended award: $6,000 (requested $8,941.67). Applicant Kara Hillis said the open and youth rabbit show would attract exhibitors from Texas, New Mexico and Colorado and likely produce motel room nights. (Recommendation sent to City Commission) - Other/Omnibus line items and rounding produced a total recommendation of $80,000.

Board action and next steps

Board member Tasha Padilla moved to approve the board’s set of recommendations as presented; Freddie Bryant seconded. The motion carried unanimously; all board members voting in favor. The board’s action is a recommendation — the City Commission must formally approve the allocations before applicants may begin using Lodgers Tax funds.

During presentations board staff and members flagged ineligible expense categories and compliance requirements. For example, staff advised applicants that facility rental is not an eligible Lodgers Tax expense (noted on the application form) and that branded banners or giveaway items must follow the city’s marking/logo requirements to be considered eligible promotional expenses.

Applicants gave operational details during their presentations: the Clovis Evening Lions Club said its gun and knife show typically brings vendors and multi-night stays; CBT Barrel Racing and boxing events outlined multi-day schedules and weigh-in or weigh-out times; Little Ballers and the Roadrunner rabbit show described expected participant counts and regional travel. The Chamber noted it is serving as fiscal agent for a cooperative advertising program tied to the city’s tourism promotion and the planned Clovis Sound Studio rollout.

Finance staff reiterated the board’s current fund totals, the per-meeting allocation estimate and the fiscal-year effect if the board awarded all current requests. Staff also reminded applicants the funds cannot be spent before City Commission approval and encouraged applicants to coordinate eligible purchases with city staff so purchases align with Lodgers Tax rules.

The Board adjourned after its vote. City staff will forward the board's recommendation packet to the City Commission for consideration at its July 17 meeting; applicants will be notified of the commission’s final action following that meeting.