Hocking County commissioners approve contracts, appropriations and accept June lodging report

The Hocking County Board of Commissioners approved multiple routine fiscal and contract items during its July 3, 2025 meeting, including two contracts, appropriations for departmental materials and courtroom equipment, and the county’s June lodging-tax report.

Commissioners approved two contracts presented by county staff by voice vote. The board then approved several appropriations from the commissioners’ department (County 001) and related accounts. Commissioners approved a line-item totaling $12,417 to cover maintenance and equipment in the courtroom; the motion carried by voice vote.

The board accepted the June lodging-tax report presented by Josh Gibbons, the county lodging-tax administrator. Gibbons told the board the county has 2,138 lodging units, including seven hotels with an additional 295 rooms; the monthly report lists 616 registered businesses, 588 of which are currently paying the tax and 28 delinquent. Gibbons said seven businesses were added to the delinquent list last month and three were returned to current status.

The motions to approve contracts and appropriations were approved by voice vote; no roll-call vote was recorded for those items in the transcript.

Why it matters: the appropriations fund ongoing county operations and courtroom needs; the lodging-tax report informs commissioners about local tourism tax revenue collection and delinquencies that may affect county revenue.

Commissioners commended staff work on delinquent accounts and noted coordination between the lodging-tax administrator and county personnel pursuing long-term delinquencies.