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Board allocates $60,000 in TOT funds to Amador County Chamber of Commerce for tourism and visitor services
Summary
After presentations from Chamber leaders and business supporters, the Board approved a $60,000 transient-occupancy-tax allocation to the Chamber to support advertising, the visitor center and business outreach.
The Board of Supervisors approved a $60,000 allocation from transient-occupancy-tax (TOT) funds to the Amador County Chamber of Commerce to support tourism promotion, its visitor center and business outreach activities.
Chamber President Matt Toma and Executive Director Brad Barnard described the organization's expanded visitor-center operations, monthly business mixers, community calendar efforts and social-media and print advertising. They said the Chamber distributed roughly 13,000 printed brochures in the past year and reported increased social-media engagement. The Chamber had requested $80,000; several supervisors said they supported the organization but expressed the need to spread limited county resources across many services and proposed $60,000 as a compromise.
Public commenters representing Kennedy Mine, tourism groups and local lodging operators supported the Chamber funding request and gave examples of increased visitation and how the Chamber's brochures and events benefit local attractions and businesses.
Board action: Supervisor Crew moved to fund the Chamber at $60,000 for fiscal year 2025-26; the motion passed 5-0.
Ending: The Chamber will receive $60,000 in TOT funds for the next fiscal year to support the visitor center, advertising and business outreach; supervisors asked the Chamber to continue fundraising and to pursue further self-sufficiency.
