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Putnam County tourism director seeks $5,000 local advertising line to back youth market and fairs
Summary
Director of tourism Tara Keegan requested a $5,000 increase to a special services line to fund local advertising and a youth business market, saying state funds (I Love New York) often cannot be used for highly local events; legislators pressed for detail on allocations and local impacts.
Putnam County’s tourism director told the county legislature’s Economic Development and Budget Committee that the tourism office needs a $5,000 special services line to pay for local advertising and programming that state cooperative funds will not cover.
Tara Keegan, introduced by the chair as the county’s director of tourism, outlined the request and gave a short cost breakdown: "Based on the notes that I have here, $4,000 of it would be for the youth business market and then the $1,000 would be just for the rent," she said. Keegan and other members explained that some projects—particularly small, locally focused programs—do not meet I Love New York eligibility, so the county requires a discretionary line to ensure promotion and continuity.
Committee members questioned specifics: one legislator noted advertising costs for the county fair can run around $7,000 and urged careful justification before committing local funds. Several members also warned that promoting tourism unevenly has local impacts: Cold Spring and Philipstown were cited as locations feeling overburdened by visitors, and members asked Keegan how the department would balance countywide promotion with local strain.
Keegan said the requested line is intended as a temporary two-year allocation to give the tourism office flexibility for events such as the youth business market, Holiday on the Lake, and activities tied to the forthcoming Rev/Rep 250 commemoration efforts. The committee did not record a formal roll-call vote on the appropriation during this meeting.
Why it matters: Local advertising and event support affect small-business promotion, visitor flows, and how tourism revenue and burdens are distributed within the county.
Next steps: Staff will clarify line-item descriptions and provide documentation on planned uses and anticipated costs before a final county appropriation is taken up.
