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Grant County reappoints three lodgers tax advisory members amid debate over ad spending vs. event funding
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Summary
The commission reappointed three members to the lodgers tax advisory board and discussed whether the county's lodging-advertising dollars are producing measurable lodging impacts versus funding local events; staff said the split follows state statute and detailed the program's match and event funding process.
County staff reported three applications for reappointment to the Lodgers Tax Advisory Board (Becky O'Connor, John Rohobick and Michael Berridge) and recommended reappointments with staggered terms; commissioners approved the recommendation and directed continued advertising to fill two remaining vacancies.
One commissioner questioned how the $55,000–$56,000 advertising allocation is used and whether more funds should be directed to local events that directly "put beds in heads." The commissioner said some long-standing local events attract visitors but expressed concern that advertising dollars may go elsewhere.
Staff explained the lodgers tax split is governed by state statute (chapter 3, section 38) and described the two-part use: a portion is used for advertising via New Mexico tourism partners and a portion funds events through an application process. "Lodgers tax is governed by state statute, and it's in chapter 3, 38," staff said, adding the county uses a three-to-one match arrangement with state tourism programs and that the advisory board makes spending recommendations.
The commission approved reappointments and agreed to continue advertising the two vacancies for the board; staff offered to provide more detailed reporting on advertising outcomes and event impacts to the commission.
The discussion combined personnel action (reappointments) with policy questions about how lodgers-tax dollars are allocated and measured for local economic benefit.
