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Ellensburg to award $500,000 in lodging-tax funds to Kittitas County for Rodeo Grandstand overage
Summary
City council approved a $500,000 lodging-tax award to Kittitas County to help cover project overages for the Rodeo Grandstand improvement project, following a lodging-tax advisory committee recommendation; county representatives said the request fills a $750,000 gap in a $13.5 million project.
Kittitas County requested a one-time $500,000 allocation from the City of Ellensburg's lodging-tax fund to help close a $750,000 overage on the Rodeo Grandstand improvement project. Heidi Berenstern, city manager, explained the lodging-tax eligibility and said the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee recommended the award after a special meeting.
A county representative summarized the project funding: approximately $13.5 million has been secured from multiple sources including county lodging-tax revenues, the rodeo association's contribution and state capital grants, and the application for city lodging-tax funds addresses the remaining gap. The county estimated construction milestone completion in time for August events but acknowledged the schedule is tight.
Council discussed fiscal trade-offs — several members noted the city has capital priorities of its own, including the field house and pool projects. The county representative said the county remains willing to partner on those projects as well.
A motion to approve the $500,000 lodging-tax award, to adjust the city budget accordingly and authorize the city manager to execute a lodging-tax agreement with Kittitas County passed by council vote.
