Chamber provides TRT reconciliation; county asks for invoices before paying Utah.com bill

Chamber of Commerce representatives reviewed a multi-year transient room tax (TRT) reconciliation and requested county assistance to pay an outstanding vendor invoice from Utah.com, now part of Deseret Digital Media, for about $26,250.

Chamber staff said the Chamber has one small unpaid bill of $3,250 it will cover and an additional $26,250 invoice that it cannot currently pay from the chamber account. The chamber representative asked the county to submit that invoice for payment from TRT funds or to otherwise facilitate payment so the vendor could be paid.

County staff said the county cannot pay a bill billed to another entity without appropriate backup and administrative steps. Staff requested that the Chamber attach the vendor invoices as backup to an invoice that the Chamber submits to the county; if the vendor can reissue the invoice billed to the county that is an alternative. County staff asked for full documentation to be provided so the item can be finalized for a future agenda.

The chamber staff described a reconciliation effort that covers marketing expenditures dating back to 2022 and said they are assembling receipts and worksheets for 2024 and 2025. The reconciliation showed roughly $50,000 in items under review, and adding the $26,250 invoice would bring the total to about $76,500 before removing items that should not come from TRT (for example, PRCA event expenses incorrectly categorized under TRT online services). Staff and chamber representatives agreed to meet to compile digital copies of all supporting materials; county staff set a goal to have materials in hand by Friday at noon to place the item on the next agenda. Carrie said, “That sounds fine with me.”

Next steps are for the Chamber to work with county staff to provide an itemized invoice and supporting receipts; staff will then place the reconciled request on a future agenda for formal consideration.