San Juan County Council voted Dec. 23 to authorize a one-year, $535,000 destination marketing services agreement between the county and the San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau, adopting the funding figure recommended by the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC). Council also approved reimbursement of up to $30,389 from LTAC funds to cover staff lodging-tax administration and support in 2025.

The LTAC'appointed staff member Aidan Haynes told the council the committee had revised its recommendation after deliberations and settled on $535,000 as a compromise between its original $561,000 request and the council's earlier $500,000 figure. "They landed on a figure of 535,000 for their recommendation," Haynes said. The recommendation is a one-year flat-fee contract.

Council chair Jane Fuller said the visitors bureau and LTAC had provided substantial information to inform the decision and that a one-year contract would allow the council to reassess the bureau's plans and partnerships. "I am sympathetic to the argument that this is not the best time to be taking a 16% cut," Fuller said, endorsing the committee's compromise and supporting the $535,000 award.

Council also approved paying up to $30,389 from LTAC funds to reimburse the county for staff time spent administering lodging-tax grant functions. Haynes said that amount represents roughly 30% of his time and that the funding approach will be treated as a tracking phase this year; it can be revisited if work demands increase.

The motions to accept LTAC's recommendation and to reimburse staff support were moved and seconded and adopted by voice votes. Councilmembers thanked visitors bureau staff and county staff for providing data and for coordination.

The one-year contract will take effect in 2025; council indicated it would schedule follow-up discussions and request additional data next year to evaluate longer-term funding levels and marketing priorities.