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Tourism commission approves proposed 2027 budget with higher grant and audit lines
Summary
The commission approved a proposed 2027 budget that raises grant funding to $320,000 and increases audit/administration funding; commissioners debated funding levels for the county's CVB and CCAC before adopting the proposal.
The Kosciusko County Tourism Commission approved the proposed 2027 budget at its July 14 meeting after an extended discussion about audit costs, funding levels for the visitors bureau (CVB) and the CCAC sports complex, and projected receipts.
Staff presented a proposed 2027 budget that includes $45,000 for audits and administrative support and $320,000 for grants (up from $300,000 in 2026). The total proposed budget presented to the commission was roughly $1,167,000. Staff said projected receipts for the upcoming fiscal year were in the neighborhood of $950,000 to $1,000,000, produced primarily from local lodging/occupancy taxes.
Commissioners questioned whether the CVB and CCAC increases were sustainable year over year and whether the commission should consider biannual audits to control costs. One commissioner urged caution about repeatedly increasing the CVB allocation and asked whether the CCAC could become more self‑sustaining; staff and board members responded that the facilities and programming rely on continuing subsidy to operate large regional tournaments and to maintain 60+ acre facilities. "If you get to a point where they could be sustainable, you won't have those people come to the tournaments because they'll be priced out," one commissioner observed.
After discussion the commission voted to approve the budget as presented; staff will forward the approved proposal to the county council as the commission's official submittal for the 2027 fiscal year.
What to expect next: The commission's adopted proposal will be transmitted to the county council for final budget hearings. Commissioners flagged follow‑up work on audit cadence and monitoring the ongoing balance between tourism promotion and grant availability.
