Geary County commissioners authorize drafting charter resolution to add 1% transient guest tax for sports-facility improvements

Geary County commissioners voted to direct staff to prepare a charter resolution that would add an extra 1 percentage point to the county's transient guest tax, with up to $100,000 a year earmarked for improvements to sports facilities and related events.

The action, taken after more than two hours of discussion, asks county staff to draft a charter resolution that would (1) add 1% to the current TGT allocation for the sports-complex fund, (2) cap annual expenditures from that supplemental revenue at $100,000 for facility improvements or event sponsorships intended to attract overnight visitors, (3) place the money in a separate interest-bearing account, and (4) require a two-year review during which hoteliers may report any negative impacts.

The proposal was presented and discussed at length by the county's Convention & Visitors Bureau director and by commissioners. Supporters argued the increase would provide seed money to make small, visible improvements (shade trees, picnic tables, scoreboards, an additional field at the 4-H center or other amenity upgrades) intended to attract tournaments and multi-night stays. Opponents and several commissioners urged a cautious approach, asking for a concrete plan for how the $100,000 would be spent and for data showing likely returns to hotels.

Commissioners and staff reviewed past TGT receipts during the discussion. Speakers said the county first collected the TGT for the sports complex in 2016, with the first full year bringing roughly $114,000; in most years since, the sports allocation reportedly has been about $100,000, with a COVID-era dip to about $89,000 in 2020. One participant said the fund balance should be roughly $1.1 million but is about $834,000 because of a 2019 transfer that had not been made under a formal charter resolution.

Legal counsel explained that charter resolutions under the cited statute require either a unanimous board vote or, if the board opts to submit the question to referendum, a two-thirds vote and subsequent election and publication steps. The board discussed those procedural requirements, the publication schedule and the potential for a petition-driven referendum; staff said a charter resolution (if adopted) would not take effect until after required publications and any waiting period specified in statute.

After debate, the board approved a motion directing staff to prepare the charter resolution with the $100,000 cap, the separate interest-bearing account, and a built-in two-year review to assess whether the increase harmed local lodging businesses. The transcript did not record a roll-call vote by name; the motion was announced as carried and the commission asked county staff to draft the formal charter resolution for a future vote.

Commissioners and staff said the drafted resolution will be brought back to the commission for formal adoption; if the board wants to avoid unanimity requirements it can declare ahead of the vote that it will submit the question to referendum, which would change the voting threshold and trigger publication and election timelines. County staff said the timing of any revenue change would align with quarter starts and publication deadlines, meaning the increase would not take effect immediately.

Speakers emphasized that $100,000 in annual improvements is likely most useful as seed funding for marketing or small capital upgrades that can help bring multi-night youth or amateur sports tournaments to Geary County. Commissioners asked that an advisory group be convened with representation from city officials, school district staff, travel-sports volunteers and hoteliers to produce recommendations the commission can review when the charter resolution returns for a vote.