Bothell advisory committee reviews lodging-tax rules, World Cup marketing and available grants
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Summary
City staff briefed the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee on how lodging-tax revenues may be used under state law, Bothell's 2% local rate and Snohomish County's separate $2 TPA assessment, and discussed World Cup marketing, grants and regional coordination.
Bothell — At a regular meeting of the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee, staff provided a legal and operational overview of the hotel/motel (lodging) tax, described how Bothell collects its local 2% lodging tax and outlined what the funds may be used for under state law.
Speaker 2 explained that lodging taxes apply to hotels, motels, short-term rentals and RV park stays for periods under 30 days, and said the city’s local levy is 2%. Staff also described a separate Snohomish County $2 assessment that funds the county’s tourism board — commonly called a Tourism Promotion Area (TPA) — and noted that TPA rules and LTAC rules differ.
“Any city, town, or county has the authority to levy a lodging tax on hotels, motels, and short term rentals,” Speaker 2 said during the presentation. On the tax period, the meeting recorded two differing statements: Speaker 1 said, “the first 30 days is taxable,” while Speaker 2 stated, “The first 30 days is nontaxable,” illustrating some confusion in the room about short-term/long-term stay thresholds.
Speaker 2 summarized the three categories of eligible expenditures under the Revised Code of Washington (RCW): tourism marketing; marketing and operations of special events and festivals designed to attract tourists; and operations of tourism facilities such as visitor centers and convention facilities. The committee was reminded that LTAC funds are kept separate from the city’s general fund.
Committee members discussed World Cup-related outreach, with staff saying Bothell will focus paid marketing on audiences roughly 50 miles or more from the city on the theory that local hotels will fill regardless. The group also encouraged support for small local watch parties if businesses choose to host them, while noting that commercial streaming for public events can require licensing and associated costs.
Grants were highlighted as a tool to support events and business engagement: Speaker 2 noted King County Metro funding rounds and a Snohomish County economic-alliance grant aimed at World Cup-related activities. Staff reported one grant application had already closed and that some grant programs required rapid turnaround and spending before year-end.
The committee discussed coordination with neighboring jurisdictions that have designated watch-party locations or TPAs (Renton, Redmond, Bellevue, Seattle and Everett were cited as examples) and the potential to represent Bothell interests on regional TPA boards if invited.
The committee approved the meeting agenda and the previous meeting’s minutes by voice vote and set multiple 2026 meeting dates to ensure compliance with the minimum statutory meeting frequency and to align timing with LTAC budget planning.