Colfax council approves lodging-tax award to Chamber for events and operations

The Colfax City Council on May 19 approved Resolution 25-10, awarding lodging-tax funds to the Colfax Chamber to support personnel, general operating expenses, marketing and promotion, Winterfest fireworks and the newly added Farmer's Market. The motion to approve was made by Councilmember Golden and seconded by Councilmember McRae; the roll call vote was recorded as all yes.

Chamber Executive Director Rachel Shad presented the application and said the funds would give the organization "a good start" and that they would not require that level of funding in future years. Councilmember Schaefer pressed for accountability given the size of the request and asked that receipts or reports be provided to the city. Finance official Amanda Link said she will develop a form and timeline for reporting expenditures to the city.

Councilmember Golden noted the request was the largest he had seen in his tenure, and observed that the lodging-tax fund receives about $60,000 annually; Guenthner cautioned that the city’s current reserves would not guarantee similar awards in subsequent years once reserves are depleted. The resolution passed with a unanimous recorded vote of present members.