Morris council declines lodging-tax support for local kinship 5K

Becca, the city manager, told the council the tourism board held an email vote and split 3–2 on recommending use of lodging-tax advertising dollars for the RUSC kinship mentoring 5K (Miracle Mile Walk). She said the event is aimed primarily at residents within roughly a 25–90 mile radius and "I would recommend that the city council not use funds for that" because lodging-tax dollars are intended to "promote Morris as a tourist destination."

Councilmember 7 moved to deny authorization of lodging-tax funds for this year's project. The motion was seconded and the council took a roll-call vote; members recorded affirmative responses and the motion carried. Council discussion during the item focused on the tourism fund's purpose ("heads on beds" for hotels), a previously established distance threshold for qualifying events, and the risk of setting precedents if exceptions are made.

The tourism board's written record of an email vote was described by Becca as showing one yes vote citing ample fund balance and another low-level yes; those who voted no cited the event's limited geographic draw. Council members asked staff to remain consistent with lodging-tax standards and to consider whether the event met the fund's promotional objectives before approving similar requests in future.

Outcome and next steps: The council declined to authorize lodging-tax advertising dollars for the RUSC kinship mentoring 5K. No further council direction on the event was recorded at the meeting.