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Caldwell Chamber urges hiring a tourism manager, proposes modest tax‑dollar reallocation
Summary
Brian Moore of the Caldwell Chamber of Commerce urged commissioners to fund a dedicated tourism manager by reorganizing tourism occupancy tax allocations, citing occupancy‑tax growth and examples from neighboring counties.
Brian Moore, president and CEO of the Caldwell County Chamber of Commerce, told the Board of Commissioners that tourism can serve as an economic engine for the county and urged hiring a dedicated tourism manager to coordinate marketing, trail wayfinding and event promotion.
Moore said occupancy‑tax receipts have grown since 2019 and that modest edits to how tourism administrative fees are set could fund a tourism manager without tapping the county’s regular budget. He cited $139,000 in annual occupancy‑tax receipts in 2019 and roughly $143,000 in 2025 and pointed to neighboring counties with multi‑person tourism staffs as models.
"I need the driver to help us drive Caldwell County tourism to the next level," Moore said, asking the board to consider reallocating existing tourism funds and small administrative‑fee adjustments to hire a manager and expand marketing and wayfinding efforts.
Commissioners expressed support for the concept and for exploring specific steps; Moore said he and county staff had already discussed possible next steps and that the Chamber had prepared a job description and initial objectives.
