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Commission approves $25,000 Lodgers' Tax award for Ruidoso Film Festival; Village contribution and overall budget noted
Summary
The Commission approved a Lodgers' Tax funding request recommended by the Lodgers' Tax Board for the Ruidoso Film Festival; the festival seeks $100,000 overall, the Village of Ruidoso pledged $100,000, and the Lodgers' Board recommended $25,000 to attract out-of-town visitors in a slow tourism month.
Michelle Williams presented a Lodgers' Tax funding request from the Ruidoso Film Festival seeking $100,000 to support a five‑day February event targeting 500–700 out‑of‑town visitors. She said the Village of Ruidoso had already approved $100,000 and that the Lodgers' Tax Board recommended a $25,000 award. The Commission approved the Lodgers' Tax funding request (motion by Commissioner Prather; unanimous vote).
Williams said the festival's goal is to increase "heads in beds" during a slow tourism month and the Lodgers' Tax Board evaluated the event's ability to drive out‑of‑county visitation. Commissioners asked budget and attendance questions; staff noted the event budget of approximately $250,000 and recommended the county's usual lodging‑tax criteria apply to any award.
