Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Lodgers Tax Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Littleton board advances direction on lodgers tax policy: tiers, grant-size 'up to' language and strategic priorities
Summary
The Arts & Culture Board reviewed updates to the lodgers tax grant policy, discussed clearer criteria for Tier 1 institutions (examples: museum, library, Town Hall Arts Center, Hudson Gardens), debated whether to recommend adding ACC, and backed restructuring Tier 2 grants into fixed 'fully funded' award sizes and requiring alignment with the board’s strategic plan. Staff will draft formal policy revisions.
The Littleton Arts & Culture Board spent the second half of its meeting reviewing proposed changes to the lodgers tax grant policy and giving staff direction to draft revisions.
The board discussed introducing measurable criteria for Tier 1 status (examples cited in ballot language include the Littleton Museum, Littleton Library, Town Hall Arts Center and Hudson Gardens). Several members supported creating a rubric—years of operation, multiple revenue sources, staff size, audience reach and documented governance—so future additions (such as Arapahoe Community College) could be evaluated transparently rather than by a ‘‘smell test.’’
Board members debated Hudson Gardens’ Tier 1 suitability. Concerns focused on its heavy reliance on South Suburban funding and whether it is fully leveraging revenue streams; other members said its large annual visitation and free daily public access justify keeping it in Tier 1 for now and urged stronger accountability and performance targets.
On allocations, the board reviewed a sample distribution framework (example default: Tier 1 50%, Tier 2 25%, Tier 3 15%, Tier 4 10%). Staff noted finance projections show flat revenue for the coming year; members discussed the trade-offs of shifting percentages and the potential dilution of Tier 1 funding if many organizations qualify.
For Tier 2, the chair proposed and the board generally supported restructuring awards into a handful of larger, fully funded grants plus smaller micro‑grants, using 'up to' language to preserve flexibility (example packages discussed in-session: 3 awards up to $20,000, 4 up to $8,000 and multiple microgrants). The board also supported directing Tier 2 applicants to demonstrate alignment with the Arts & Culture Board’s strategic plan and guaranteeing full funding if the application meets the targeted category criteria.
Members encouraged stronger Tier 3 (tourism/marketing) accountability to focus on nonlocal marketing and supporting local hotels ('heads and beds'), and asked staff to add application language that seeks distance marketing strategies. Staff and board agreed to protect Tier 4 core items (mural program, awards) while reserving some Tier 4 capacity for strategic-plan initiatives and off-cycle grants.
Staff were directed to draft the updated policy and circulate it to the board; the board did not take a formal vote at the meeting and decided there will be no December meeting, with follow-up expected in January.
