Votes at a glance: Occupancy-tax committee approves Civic Center design study, extends North Warren branding contract and adopts 2026 spending plan

Warren County’s Occupancy Tax Coordination Committee recorded multiple actions on March 23: it approved funding and appropriation for a Civic Center design study, extended a North Warren Chamber branding contract, and adopted the 2026 spending plan.

What passed

• Civic Center design: The committee approved a motion to award $200,000 to the Adirondack Civic Center Coalition for engineering and design work intended to support grant applications. The committee also adopted a resolution authorizing the appropriation from the occupancy-tax reserve to account A6417 (tourism civic center capital cost).

• North Warren contract extension: The committee extended a previously approved $150,000 tri‑town branding contract (North Warren Wilds) through Dec. 31, 2026. The extension does not add new funding; staff reported about $94,000 remained to be spent from the original award.

• 2026 spending plan: The committee approved the 2026 spending plan distribution to towns and the city of Glens Falls. Supervisors discussed that 25% of projected occupancy-tax revenues (based on an $8 million projection) goes to towns (approximately $2 million) and that the committee provides additional supplemental funds to municipalities.

Votes and next steps

All three measures were approved by voice vote; the transcript records committee voice approval but does not provide roll-call tallies. Staff signaled some funds will not be available until the fourth quarter of 2026 and warned the committee that, under current projections and payout timing, the occupancy-tax account may require drawing about $1.3 million from reserves to meet upcoming obligations. County finance and tourism staff were asked to provide updated schedules and to report back on grant applications tied to the Civic Center design work.

Actions in brief

• Award and appropriation: $200,000 to Adirondack Civic Center Coalition for Civic Center design; appropriation from occ-tax reserve to A6417 (approved). • Contract extension: North Warren Chamber tri‑town branding contract extended to Dec. 31, 2026 (no new appropriation). • Spending plan: 2026 spending plan adopted, including town allocations; staff warned of reserve use and recommended monitoring cash-flow timing.

The committee adjourned after completing votes and directed staff to follow up with implementation details and grant-status updates.