Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Tourism topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents, council debate tourism funding as town considers pulling transient‑occupancy funds
Summary
A long‑time resident urged the council to continue contributing transient‑occupancy tax funds to Shenandoah County Tourism; staff said the town historically gave 1% but county funding changes and other towns' decisions led to a proposed pullback while the town remains on the tourism council.
At the May 18 public hearing and ensuing budget discussion, resident Thomas Constable, who said he has lived in New Market for 52 years, asked the town to continue funding county tourism efforts and argued New Market is undersupporting tourism. He cited local attractions including the Virginia Museum of the Civil War and Shenvalee, and described tourism as the county’s second‑largest industry after agriculture.
Staff responded that the town historically contributed 1% of transient‑occupancy tax revenue to Shenandoah County Tourism, but the county since established its own transient‑occupancy tax and other towns stopped direct contributions. Mr. Garrison said the current budget proposal would stop the town contribution though the town would remain represented on the tourism council. Council member Jon Henry said he had requested a return‑on‑investment report from the county’s tourism office and that the office was unaware the town had been contributing, which he cited as a stewardship concern.
No final decision on tourism funding was made; the item remained part of the ongoing budget discussion pending formal budget action in June.
