Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget Collections topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board reviews finances, bed‑tax changes and approves marketing contract support
Summary
Budget Director distributed financials; board discussed travel spending and short‑term rental collections ahead of a 3% bed‑tax increase effective April 1, 2026, and noted a county contract with Alpha Key Digital Marketing for $120,000 annually and the upcoming hire of a Communications Director.
At the Feb. 19 meeting, the Visitors Bureau reviewed its financial statement and discussed collection and administrative capacity ahead of an April 1 increase in the bed tax rate.
Budget Director K.C. Saunders distributed the financial statement and agreed to clarify travel expenditures the director questioned as high. Chair David J. Moore said an additional 3% on the bed tax "starts April 1, 2026," and asked Director Garry Gibbs to compile an updated list of short‑term rentals; Saunders will send collection letters. Moore said the person being hired for the Visitors Bureau will help Saunders with bed‑tax collection.
Moore also noted commissioners approved Alpha Key Digital Marketing as the county communications contractor and that the county had approved a purchase order for $120,000 annually for one year to manage digital communications. The Visitors Bureau's new Communications Director is expected to start in March 2026 and will share some responsibilities with the county communications staff.
Board members asked staff to clarify travel expenditures and to provide updated short‑term rental data and collection letters ahead of the bed‑tax change.
