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Commission asks subcommittee to audit tourism/economic development budget after state auditor’s findings
Summary
Following a state auditor review, commissioners agreed to move tourism/travel-promotion budget lines and asked an Economic Development/Bridal Council subcommittee plus clerk/auditor to review the 2025 adopted budget and report recommendations by Feb. 4.
The commission addressed a recommended budget transfer to align the county’s Tourism Promotion (TRT) and economic-development accounting with state auditor guidance. The clerk/auditor explained that past practice placed some tourism-related expenditures in a fund titled "economic development," and the transfer moves TRT-funded tourism and promotional lines into Fund 23 to increase transparency.
Commissioners raised questions about how staff time was split between tourism (Bridal Council/travel promotion) and economic development functions. A time-study was cited showing the director and deputy dividing duties between tourism and economic-development tasks. The clerk explained that staff costs for economic development would be reimbursed from the general fund as appropriate and that precise reimbursements would be calculated at year-end rather than by splitting payroll for each pay period.
Given concerns about transparency and line-item detail, the commission voted to direct an Economic Development/Bridal Council subcommittee (with the county clerk/auditor) to review the adopted 2025 budget and provide recommendations at the Feb. 4 commission meeting. The motion passed with five votes in favor and two abstentions.
