HomeMy WebLinkAbout112525 email Public comment for LTACALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
LTAC Members,
I recognize that the Board of County Commissioners ultimately has the authority to adopt, reject, or modify LTAC’s recommendations. Even so, the statute places a very clear responsibility
on you as the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee to provide comments in adherence to RCW 67.28.1817 (emphasis my own): The advisory committee shall submit comments on the proposal in a
timely manner through generally applicable public comment procedures. The comments shall include an analysis of the extent to which the proposal will accommodate activities for tourists
or increase tourism, and the extent to which the proposal will affect the long-term stability of the fund created under RCW 67.28.1815.
1. The application’s financial section is incomplete and raises concerns about backfilling the county budget. On page 3 of the application, Parks & Recreation states: 2026 Operating
Budget: $1,031,227 and their LTAC Request: $150,000
Yet the proposal provides no revenue detail outside of LTAC funding. There is no disclosure of campground revenue for 2025 or projected for 2026, day-use revenue, fee schedules and any
historical increases, whether their revenues cover operations, how campground income is reinvested. At the same time, the application states that the request is needed: “due to potential
shortfalls in general fund revenue” and to "reduce dependence on the General Fund." LTAC dollars are intended to support tourism-driven facilities and activities, not to stabilize departmental
operating budgets.
2. Section 1: Campgrounds are clearly tourism-related — and LTAC already recommended that this section’s amount be funded (minus the percentage cut all applicants received). The $50,000
for campground operations and visitor-related maintenance is the portion of the proposal that aligns most closely with lodging-tax purposes.
3. Section 2: Day-Use Parks may include questionable eligibility and insufficient tourism justification. This section details funding for maintenance and operations including items such
as trash removal/waste management. You may ask your attorney's office for their opinion on this- in a recent Port Townsend LTAC meeting, they received guidance from the State Auditor’s
Office that determined their garbage contract was not an eligible tourism expense and must now be covered by their general fund.
I understand the County is facing a significant budget deficit and that many departments, including Parks & Recreation, are under real financial pressure. These challenges are very
real, and I don’t take them lightly. This message is to share insight and commend the LTAC for ensuring its recommendations remain aligned with RCW requirements, to support proposals
that demonstrate a clear, measurable tourism nexus.
I appreciate the many hours you've taken to review these proposals and your diligent stewardship of the lodging tax funds.
Jessie