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Langley council adopts new lodging-tax distribution, creates affordable-housing set-aside
Summary
The Langley City Council approved a resolution reallocating lodging-tax revenue so roughly 81.25% funds local tourism and a 6.25% set-aside begins accruing for permanently affordable housing; councilors asked staff for more detail on how the housing funds will be used.
The Langley City Council on Feb. 17 adopted a resolution to update how the city's lodging-tax receipts are distributed, creating a small dedicated set-aside for permanently affordable housing.
Mayor Kennedy Horstman presented the math behind the change and said the interlocal update results in an 81.25% allocation for local tourism promotion and an initial 6.25% set-aside for permanently affordable housing. "So what we're asking for in that category is 81.25%," Horstman said during the discussion. Council members moved, seconded and voted in favor of the resolution.
Finance Director Kelly Beach told council the adjustment recoups a portion of funds from the interlocal agreement so Langley can add that money to local uses; she estimated roughly $50,000 annually for tourism-promotion grants and another $50,000 for visitor-center operations under the new split. Horstman said the permanently affordable housing set-aside will begin accruing this year while council and staff define how it will be spent and that any formal spending rules will come back to council for review.
Council discussion touched on the budgetary mechanics and the need for clearer narration of what the 6.25% will support. Mayor Horstman said the city must provide 12 months' notice to change the interlocal agreement and that the set-aside is designed to grow over time rather than provide immediate programmatic funding.
The resolution was approved by voice vote; the mayor called for ayes and recorded no opposition.
