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Tourism official outlines lodging‑tax grant buckets and LTAC role; larger grants to return for board review
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Summary
County staff briefed commissioners on the lodging‑tax advisory committee (LTAC) process and grant categories: annual small marketing grants, a biennial larger infrastructure grant, and standing support for visitor centers. The director said larger grants will appear on next week’s agenda for board signature.
Kim, who oversees lodging‑tax matters, explained how the county distributes lodging‑tax revenues and the role of the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC). She said by statute (RCW) LTAC must approve expenditures before money is spent and that the committee has five members: two tax collectors, two users and one county commissioner.
Kim described three funding 'buckets': an annual marketing grant (budgeted at $50,000) intended to help events with promotion; a larger infrastructure grant awarded every two years (the county holds a $100,000 placeholder in off years so it can provide $200,000 in award years); and an ongoing allocation that supports visitor centers operated by local chambers.
She gave the North County Recreation Association as an example of an applicant seeking infrastructure funds for facility improvements and said she would provide full applications to commissioners on request. Kim said she would place the larger grants on next week’s agenda so the board could review and sign any necessary contracts.
Commissioners indicated they did not want to change the LTAC process at this time but asked to see supporting documentation when large awards are presented.
