Council endorses advisory committee recommendation to fully fund two tourism agencies

Fairfield County Council carried a recommendation from its accommodation and hospitality tax advisory committee to fully fund two state-level tourism applicants for fiscal year 2025–26.

The advisory committee recommended awarding $227,288 to the Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce and $23,288 to the Old English District Tourism Commission, a combined $250,576. Committee members said the chamber requested $515,000 but the committee recommended the lower, fully funded figure of $227,288 to cover staffing and visitor-center costs; the Old English District request was recommended at $23,288 to support advertising, guide promotion, and co-op campaigns that include Fairfield County. The committee reported a carryover balance of $142,523.61 and said the county expects additional state disbursements after July 1.

During the council discussion staff said local accommodation and hospitality funds total closer to $1 million after a recent audit, and projected total funds available after the upcoming state distribution could fall in the range of several hundred thousand dollars (staff estimated between $350,000 and $450,000 by trend analysis but said the exact amount will depend on the upcoming disbursement). The council moved to accept the advisory committee’s state funding recommendations; the clerk recorded the vote as carried in open session.

Council members and staff said they will consider additional guidance and rules for the advisory committees; staff reported proposed governing guidelines and a timeline will be brought to the administration and finance committee and then to the full council for approval.